Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The Directorate General of Civil Defense (DGCD) urged the public to take utmost caution and vigil amid the forecast of heavy rain that would hit most regions of Saudi Arabia until Monday.

The directorate called for taking precautions, as well as to stay in safe places and stay away from places where torrents and valleys gather, and not swim in such places. The DGCD also called on Saudi citizens and expatriates in the Kingdom to adhere to the instructions announced through various official media outlets and social networking sites.

Quoting the weather forecast of the National Center for Meteorology (NCM), the directorate stated that moderate to heavy rains, leading to torrential rains, hail, and dust-stirring winds would be experienced in various parts of the Makkah region until Monday. These include the Holy City, Jeddah, Al-Jumum, Al-Kamil, Al-Khormah, Turbah, Raniyah, Al-Muwayh, Qunfudhah, Al-Laith, Taif, Maysan, Adham, Al-Ardiyat, Bahra, Khulais, and Rabigh.

The DGCD said that moderate to heavy rains likely to witness various parts of the Riyadh region including Afif, Al-Quwayiyah, Al-Dawadmi, Al-Zulfi, Al-Ghat, Shaqra, Thadiq, Marat, Al-Majma'ah, and Rimah, and light to moderate rains will experience in the capital city of Riyadh, Hawtah Bani Tamim, Al-Hariq, Al-Muzahmiya, Al-Kharj, Harimla, Al-Diriyah, and Dharma.

Moderate to heavy rains will affect the regions of Madinah, Hail, Al-Qassim, Tabuk, Al-Jouf, the Northern Borders, the Eastern Province, Al-Baha, Asir, and Jazan, the directorate said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency. The National Center of Meteorology warned on Saturday of heavy rains, accompanied by strong winds, poor visibility, high waves, flash floods, thunderstorms, and hail in various parts of the southern Jazan region, including the city of Jazan, and the governorates of Farasan Islands, Al-Darb, Beesh, Dammad, Sabya, Abu Arish, Ahad Al-Masarihah, Samtah, At-Tuwal, Al-Dayer, Al-Raith, Al-Eidabi, Harub, Fifa, Al-Aridah, Al-Harth, coastal areas, open areas, and highways. The center indicated that the rainy situation will continue until 8 pm.

Meanwhile, NCM said that dust-stirring winds will blow and heavy rain accompanied by hail may fall in parts of the regions of Jazan, Asir, Al-Baha, Makkah, Madinah, Qassim, Hail, the Northern Borders, Al-Jouf, Riyadh, and the Eastern Region. Fog may form in parts of these regions. Winds over the Red Sea will be northwesterly to southwesterly, at speeds of 10-30 km/h in the northern and central parts, and southwesterly to southeasterly, at speeds of 15-45 km/h in the southern part. Waves may reach from half a meter to two meters; the sea will be relatively calm to choppy.

In the Arabian Gulf, winds will be northerly to northwesterly, reaching 15-35 km/h. Waves may range from half a meter to one and a half meters, and the sea will be relatively calm. The NCM warned of moderate rain falling on Yanbu, Al-Rais, Al-Mahd, Badr, Wadi Al-Fara` and Al-Ays in the Madinah region with effects including high-speed winds, near-zero horizontal visibility, hail, torrents and thunderstorms. The NCM warned of heavy rains in the Al-Jouf region, accompanied by strong winds, lack of horizontal visibility, hail, torrents and thunderstorms in the governorates of Al-Qurayyat and Tabarjal, open areas and highways.

The Saudi Red Crescent Authority in Al-Jouf region has raised its readiness in response to warnings about the current rainy conditions in the region and its governorates. Dr. Mamdouh Al-Ruwaili, the branch's director general, explained that the preparations included equipping 14 ambulance teams, two care teams, air ambulance team, in addition to a response team for remote areas, with the preparation of additional support teams to meet emergency needs, to ensure a rapid response to any emergency situation that may result from weather fluctuations.