Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The General Authority of Meteorology and Environmental Protection has said a cold waved gripped the Kingdom after the arrival of a cold air mass in the Saudi airspace a few days ago.

The Saudi weather forecaster said the cold air mass would significantly reduce temperatures in the northern and northeastern regions as well as central Saudi Arabia.

"Various regions of the Kingdom will be affected by the cold wave with a significant drop in temperatures. Sub-zero temperatures are expected in the northern regions of Tabuk, Al-Jouf, the Border Province and Hail. The cold spell in the Kingdom normally starts on Dec. 6 and it has already hit the central and eastern regions since Sunday,” the authority said in a statement.

The cold weather will be extended to the northern parts of the central and eastern Saudi Arabia. It will be accompanied by dusty surface winds, which will limit horizontal visibility and the wind speed could reach 45 km per hour.

The authority said the climatic changes associated with the cold mass and surface winds could turn into a dust storm with horizontal vision reaching less than one kilometer in a number of regions.

The movement of the air mass accompanied by active dusty winds will hit the central, eastern and western regions of the Kingdom, including the coastal areas of Makkah and Madinah regions as well as the southern provinces.

Meteorologists said extreme winter started in Saudi Arabia on Dec. 7, and it would continue for 39 days. The winter season in Saudi Arabia lasts three months until Feb. 23.

The last part of winter will be distinguished for its extreme cold weather, especially in the northern regions where temperatures will fall below zero with heavy snowfalls in mountainous areas.

“The last part of winter season will continue for 13 days beginning from Jan. 2 and ending on Jan. 15,” one expert said while speaking to Al-Hayat Arabic daily.

"This will be preceded by two stages marked with remarkable drop in temperatures and will be followed by 26 days of moderate winter,” he said.