Thunderstorms, hail and strong winds forecast across Saudi Arabia Wednesday

The National Center of Meteorology has forecast moderate to heavy thunderstorms on Wednesday, which may lead to flash floods, accompanied by hail and strong winds stirring dust and sand in parts of the Eastern Province, Riyadh, Qassim, Madinah, Makkah, Al-Baha, Asir, Jazan, and Najran. Fog formation is also possible in these areas, as well as in parts of Hail, Al-Jouf, and the Northern Borders region. A drop in temperatures is expected to follow across most regions of the Kingdom.

The center added that surface winds over the Red Sea will be northwesterly to northerly at 20–42 km/h, reaching up to 50 km/h in the northern part. In the central part, winds will be northwesterly to northerly at 18–40 km/h, while in the southern part, southeasterly to northeasterly winds will blow at 12–32 km/h, exceeding 50 km/h at times. Wave heights will range from half a meter to one and a half meters, reaching over two meters, with sea conditions from slight to moderate.

Over the Arabian Gulf, winds will be northwesterly to northerly at 20–45 km/h, exceeding 50 km/h in the northern part, and northwesterly to westerly at 18–45 km/h, also exceeding 50 km/h in the southern part. Waves are expected to be half a meter to one and a half meters high, reaching over two meters, with sea conditions ranging from slight to moderate, becoming rough at times.