JEDDAH — Red alerts for heavy rain and flash floods have been issued for parts of Asir on Tuesday, as the National Center for Meteorology (NCM) forecasts rainfall could continue across affected areas through the end of next week.
Red alerts for heavy rain cover Al-Namas, Al-Majardah and Rijal Almaa in Asir. The NCM also said moderate to heavy thunderstorms that could lead to flash floods, accompanied by hail, are expected over parts of Jazan, Asir, Al-Baha and Makkah.
Meanwhile an orange alert for moderate rain has been issued for Al-Ardiyat in the Makkah region and yellow alerts for light rain have been issued for Al-Birk in Asir and Farasan in Jazan.
Light to moderate rain is also forecast over parts of Najran.
Additionally, in the Eastern Province, orange alerts for blowing dust are active in Al-Nairiyah and Hafar Al-Batin, with additional locations also affected, while a yellow alert for a heat wave has been issued for Dhahran.
Active winds stirring up dust are expected over parts of Jazan, Asir, Al-Baha, Makkah and Najran, as well as parts of the Eastern Province and Madinah.
For temperatures, Riyadh, Madinah, Dammam and Buraidah are forecast to record highs of 44°C, followed by Makkah at 43°C and Hail at 42°C.
Temperatures are expected to reach 40°C in Najran, 39°C in Arar and Sakaka, 38°C in Jazan, 37°C in Jeddah, 36°C in Tabuk, 30°C in Al-Baha and 29°C in Abha.
For other conditions, blowing dust is forecast in Dammam, Buraidah, Jazan and Najran, while suspended dust is expected in Makkah. Fog is forecast in Abha.
Riyadh is expected to be clear to partly cloudy, while Tabuk, Arar and Sakaka are forecast to be clear.
Humidity is forecast to reach 90 percent in Abha and Al-Baha, 80 percent in Jeddah and Jazan, 70 percent in Najran, 60 percent in Dammam, 45 percent in Tabuk and 40 percent in Makkah.
Humidity levels are expected to reach 35 percent in Arar and Sakaka, 30 percent in Hail, 25 percent in Buraidah, and 20 percent in Riyadh and Madinah.
In its extended outlook for Monday through Friday, the NCM provided more specific forecasts for affected areas, with rainfall expected to intensify over parts of Jazan and Asir on Wednesday.
In Jazan, moderate to heavy rain, intensifying on Wednesday, is forecast over Al-Rayth, Harub, Al-Dayer, Al-Eidabi, Fayfa, Al-Aridah, Al-Harth, Al-Tuwal, Al-Darb, Baysh, Sabya, Damad, Abu Arish, Ahad Al-Masarih and Samtah. Jazan and Farasan are also forecast to receive moderate to heavy rain during varying periods.
In Asir, moderate to heavy rain, intensifying on Wednesday, is forecast over Abha, Khamis Mushait, Ahad Rufaidah, Sarat Abidah, Al-Harajah, Dhahran Al-Janub, Al-Farshah, Al-Namas, Tanomah, Rijal Almaa, Bareq, Mahayil Asir, Al-Majardah and Balqarn.
Moderate to heavy rain is also forecast over Qilwah, Bani Hassan, Al-Qara, Al-Makhwah, Al-Hajrah, Ghamid Al-Zinad, Al-Baha, Baljurashi, Al-Mandaq and Al-Aqiq in Al-Baha, as well as Maysan, Adham and Al-Ardiyat in the Makkah region.
Taif is forecast to receive moderate rain, while light to moderate rain is expected over Najran, Badr Al-Janub, Hubuna and Thar.
According to the NCM, light rain corresponds to 1–4 mm per hour and may be accompanied by active winds stirring up dust and sand at speeds of up to 50 km/h.
Moderate rain corresponds to 5–9 mm per hour and may be accompanied by winds of up to 60 km/h, near-zero horizontal visibility and the possibility of flash floods.
Heavy rain corresponds to 10–50 mm per hour or more and may be accompanied by winds reaching 60 km/h or more, flash floods, hail, high waves along the coast and the possibility of tornadoes or waterspouts.
The NCM’s initial forecasts indicate that rainfall could continue over some affected areas through the end of next week.
Source: Saudi Gazette