Heavy rain continues to hit parts of Saudi Arabia

Dubai: Heavy rain continues to hit large parts of Mecca and Medina regions causing significant flooding on Monday leading to traffic disruptions.

According to the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, moderate to heavy rainfall also affected other regions of the Kingdom. Al Shafiyah in Badr governorate, Medina, recorded the highest rainfall at 49.2 mm, followed by the Al Basateen district in Jeddah, which saw 38 mm.

In Medina, several areas experienced substantial rainfall. The Central Haram Area near the Prophet’s Mosque recorded 36.1 mm, while other sites, including Al Masjid in Badr and Quba Mosque, received 33.6 mm and 28.4 mm, respectively.

The report from the ministry indicated that Mecca, Medina, Qassim, Tabuk, Northern Borders, and Al Jouf regions would continue to experience rain through Tuesday, January 7.

The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) downgraded the weather alert for Jeddah from red to orange, warning of moderate rain, strong winds, low visibility, high waves, thunderstorms, and potential water accumulation. The NCM advised the public to follow the warnings issued by authorities for their safety and to stay updated on weather information.

King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah issued a notice urging travellers to contact airlines for updates on flight schedules due to the adverse weather conditions.

NCM spokesperson Hussein Al Qahtani confirmed that moderate to heavy rains are expected to continue in Jeddah and other regions. He urged residents to exercise caution and stay in safe areas during the ongoing weather conditions.

Meanwhile, the Jeddah Mayoralty has ramped up efforts to address the rainfall’s impact, deploying teams to remove water from flooded areas and maintain traffic flow. The mayoralty mobilised 4,032 personnel to assist in flood management across 11 municipalities and 15 support centres.