Riyadh: The Saudi ministry of education announced the closure of schools in Riyadh on Wednesday following heavy rains that hit the capital on Tuesday.

The rains continued for several hours. People remained confined to their homes in the capital Riyadh, the eastern province, Tabuk, Assir and Baha regions.

It was reported that snow fell in the northern region of Tabuk on Tuesday with highlands of Allouze and Talfaha near Tabuk largely covered with snow. 

The Presidency of Meteorology and Environment said the minimum temperature in Tabuk was below zero degrees Celsius.

The heavy rain and fog had led to low visibility in different regions resulting in large number of traffic accidents. The bad weather also disrupted  electric power supplies in some areas.

The electricity company said it has deliberately switched off the power to avoid fatal incidents.

Major Hassan Al Hassan, director of control and command room at the Riyadh Traffic Department said his department has reported 402 traffic accidents resulting from heavy rains and poor visibility. However, he underlined that no deaths or injuries were reported.

He explained that his department's operations room has received 1373 reports seeking traffic assistance and 613 calls for general services. He said the traffic patrols have spotted 60 locations with rain water pools, adding that the municipality concerned authorities were alerted to pump out water.

Traffic in some areas of the capital has come to a standstill, leaving volunteer motorists to assume the responsibility of directing traffic flow in the densely populated capital. 

In the eastern province, Colonel Mohammad Al Ghamdi, spokesman of the Frontier Guard Command said the heavy rains that hit the region since Tuesday morning  has led to reduction of permits granted to fishing boats, adding that usually around 400 permits are issued on a daily basis but due to the rain and fog only 70 were granted on Tuesday. 

He pointed out that if the situation becomes worse, fishing boats will be prevented from work to save the lives of fishermen. He pointed out that his department is in full alert for any emergency.  

Na'eem Al Na'eem, director of King Abdul Aziz Port in Dammam has underlined that shipping traffic was not halted at the port.

He added only the traffic will be halted if  the movement of winds and waves is very high, or in case or poor visibility or if it is raining heavily.