Thunderstorms, rising temperatures and strong winds forecast across Saudi Arabia Wednesday

The National Center for Meteorology has forecast continued formation of thunderstorm clouds with rain over parts of the western and southwestern highlands of Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. Surface winds reducing horizontal visibility are expected in the eastern parts of these regions, while hot to extremely hot weather will persist in the Eastern Province and parts of Riyadh and Madinah.

The center's report also indicated that active, dust-raising winds will continue to affect parts of these areas, as well as the Northern Borders, Al-Jouf, Tabuk, Hail, Qassim, Makkah and Najran.

According to the report, surface winds over the Red Sea will be northerly to northwesterly at 15-35 km/h in the north, northwesterly to westerly at 20-45 km/h in the central part, and northwesterly to southwesterly at 12-33 km/h in the south. Wave heights will range from half a meter to 1.5 meters in the north and south, and from 1.5 to 2.5 meters in the central part. Sea conditions will be light to moderate in the north and south, and moderate to rough in the central part.

In the Arabian Gulf, surface winds will be southeasterly to northeasterly, shifting to southwesterly in the evening at 15-30 km/h in the northern and central areas, and northeasterly to northwesterly at 10-28 km/h, reaching up to 50 km/h with thunderstorm clouds in the south. Wave heights will range from half a meter to one meter, rising to over two meters with thunderstorms in the south. Sea conditions will be light, becoming rough with thunderstorm activity in the southern Gulf.