Rain, cooler temperatures expected through Friday

JEDDAH/RIYADH: Heavy rainfall and low temperatures are expected to continue through Friday before easing into light drizzle in Asir and the Eastern Province, the Jeddah-based Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME) told Arab News Wednesday.
Daytime high temperatures in the Asir region were expected reach 24C today and drop slightly to 23 on Friday. Overnight lows will drop to 17C. In Jeddah, overnight lows on Thursday were expected to fall to 19C, with a high during the day of 25C. In Riyadh, overnight lows are predicted at 17C, while the daytime high will be 22C.
Meanwhile, continuous rainfall has caused major disruptions in several parts of the Kingdom with the Asir region the hardest hit with flooding.
The Kingdomwide death toll remained late Wednesday at one person, who was killed in the Asir region due to flooded valleys. At least 10 other people were injured and one is reported missing. The Civil Defense reported that 25 people were rescued.
Asir’s Civil Defense spokesperson Muhammad Al-Asimi told SPA the department’s operation room received 600 flood-related reports in Abha on Tuesday, which resulted in the flooding of nine valleys.
In addition, Saudi Red Crescent reported 104 car accidents and motorists trapped in their vehicles, in addition to illnesses due to weather changes.
Schools in this southwestern region have closed and Abha’s King Khalid University suspended classes on Thursday as a precautionary procedure, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
“Different areas around the Kingdom are still affected as this is the rain season and there are still chances for having cumulus clouds and more rain in the coming days,” Hussein Al-Qahtani, PME’s official spokesperson told Arab News in a phone interview.
Following unprecedented rainfall in some parts Riyadh, Civil Defense authorities on Wednesday urged motorists to take extra care while driving in the rain.
Heavy downpours lashed parts of Riyadh late Tuesday, resulting in traffic jams, vehicles trapped in floods and the Traffic Department being inundated with rescue calls from motorists and pedestrians.
“Rainfall in Riyadh has been uninterrupted for the past few days but up until now it hasn’t reached its peak,” said Al-Qahtani.
The Riyadh region reported heavy rains in Rimah, Thadiq, Murrat, Al-Quwaiya, Huraymala, Wadi Dawasir, Muzzamiyah and Hawtah Bani Tamim provinces.
Riyadh Civil Defense Chief Maj. Mohammed Al-Hammadi, urged people to comply with safety guidelines and be careful while driving during rainfall.
“People should keep away from electrical wires and connections exposed to rainwater, avoid standing in open places or near trees, and avoid walking through flood waters,” Al-Hammadi said. He added that they also should avoid using cell phones during lightning and thunder.
He said the Riyadh region directorate has taken precautionary measures, and is ready to face the dangers of rain and flooding, based on reports on developments and weather changes from the authorities.
The weather is predicted to be punctuated by rainy thunderclouds and active surface winds that might limit horizontal visibility due to dust.
Jeddah’s skies were gray and cloudy Wednesday and the temperature has dropped to range between 19C-23C, which is the kind of weather that usually precedes rainfall. The PME said that there are chances of having scattered rain and drizzle in the city and that a warning would be issued if needed.
“If there’s any aerial phenomenon that’s worth issuing a warning about, we’ll surely make the needed announcement,” Al-Qahtani said.
The PME forecast said there would be incessant heavy rainfall and thunderstorms over parts of Asir and Jazan, while rains of varying intensity are expected in central and eastern parts of Saudi Arabia.
Warnings of severe weather changes are announced on PME’s social networking pages and via SMS.