Thunderstorms and strong winds expected across several Saudi regions Thursday

The National Center for Meteorology has forecast moderate to heavy thunderstorms today, which may cause flash floods, accompanied by hail and strong winds in parts of Jazan, Asir, Al-Baha, and Makkah, as well as fog in these areas and along the eastern coastal region. Thunderstorms with strong winds raising dust are also expected in parts of Madinah, Qassim, Hail, Tabuk, Al-Jouf, Northern Borders, the Eastern Province, and the northern areas of Riyadh.

The report noted that surface winds over the northern Red Sea will be northwesterly to westerly at 15–35 km/h, reaching up to 45 km/h toward the Gulf of Aqaba. In the central Red Sea, winds will be northwesterly to southwesterly at 15–35 km/h, while in the south they will shift from southerly to southwesterly, turning at night to northerly to northeasterly at 10–30 km/h, exceeding 60 km/h with thunderstorm activity. Wave heights in the northern Red Sea will range from half a meter to 1.5 meters, reaching over 2 meters toward the Gulf of Aqaba. In the central part, waves will be 1 to 1.5 meters, and in the south, from half a meter to 1 meter, also exceeding 2 meters during thunderstorms. Sea conditions will vary from slight to moderate, becoming rough in the north toward the Gulf of Aqaba, and may also become rough in the central and southern parts during thunderstorms.

In the Arabian Gulf, surface winds in the north will shift from southwesterly to northwesterly, turning in the evening to northeasterly to southeasterly at 10–25 km/h, reaching up to 50 km/h with thunderstorm activity. In the south, winds will be northeasterly to easterly at 10–25 km/h, also reaching up to 50 km/h during thunderstorms. Wave heights in the northern Gulf will range from half a meter to 1 meter, exceeding 2 meters during thunderstorms, while in the south, waves will also range from half a meter to 1 meter, exceeding 2 meters with thunderstorm activity. Sea conditions in both the northern and southern Gulf will be slight, becoming rough during thunderstorms.