Heavy thunderstorms and flash floods expected in southwestern Saudi Arabia

Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s National Centre for Meteorology said that heavy to torrential thunderstorms are likely over several southwestern regions on Friday, bringing the risk of flash floods. Areas in Jazan, Asir, Al Baha and Mecca are forecast to see downpours accompanied by hail and strong winds.

While the southwest braces for severe weather, temperatures are expected to be hot to extremely hot in the Eastern Province and Medina, with a chance of thunderclouds and gusty winds forming over parts of both regions, as well as Riyadh and Najran.

Over the Red Sea, surface winds will blow northwesterly to northerly at 20–40 km/h, reaching up to 50 km/h in the northern sector, and westerly to northwesterly at 15–35 km/h, also reaching 50 km/h in the southern sector.

Waves are expected to range from one to two metres in the north and one to 1.5 metres in the south, with seas ranging from moderate to rough in the north and moderate in the south.

In the Arabian Gulf, surface winds are forecast to be southeasterly to easterly at 8–28 km/h, with waves between half a metre and one metre, and generally calm seas.