Freak hail storm hits Saudi city of Madinah

Manama: A ‘freak’ downpour of hail has caused several accidents in Madinah in western Saudi Arabia and damaged several cars.

Residents posted pictures of some of the white “marble balls” after they shattered car windows making driving dangerous.

The heavy downpour of rain and the storms across Saudi Arabia have also sent people into hiding and prompted the authorities to suspend school and college education to ensure the safety of students.

The General Authority of Meteorology and Environmental Protection predicted that the thunderstorms would continue and would be accompanied by fresh wind and dust.

Visibility will be decreased in the eastern region and southern parts of the capital Riyadh and across to Najran.

The authority on Sunday said that temperatures would decrease in the north and central parts of the kingdom.

Warnings were issued that dust storms would be formed in Najran throughout the day which would greatly reduce visibility.

Dust storms will also hit the region of Aseer and would limit visibility to less than two kilometres.

Drivers have been warned to exercise the highest levels of caution.