Saudi Arabia Issues Weather Warnings for Severe Storms

Saudi Arabia Civil Defense Issues Second Weekly Weather Warning

Saudi authorities issued urgent warnings on Tuesday regarding widespread thunderstorm activity, potential flash floods, and hail sweeping through multiple regions of the Kingdom for the second week in a row. The General Directorate of Civil Defense released a statement outlining active weather conditions spanning from Wednesday through the following Monday.

الدعوة العامة للدفاع المدني دعت إلى أخذ الحيطة والحذر، وضرورة البقاء في أماكن آمنة والابتعاد عن أماكن تجمُّع السيول والأودية وعدم السباحة فيها.

The hazardous weather builds upon an earlier alert issued on March 10, 2026, by the General Directorate of Civil Defense for storms that affected the country from March 11 to 15. Meteorological forecasts indicate that the regions of Makkah and Riyadh will experience heavy rainfall accompanied by flash floods, falling hail, and dust-stirring downdrafts. Moderate to heavy storms are also projected to impact the Northern Borders, Madinah, and the Eastern Province.

"هطول أمطار رعدية على مناطق المملكة من يوم غدٍ الأربعاء حتى الإثنين المقبل" General Directorate of Civil Defense, via AA

Amid widespread weather disruptions, the General Directorate of Civil Defense announced the issuance of the warning on the evening of Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Authorities ordered school closures and shifted classes to remote learning in several Saudi districts after floodwaters submerged major roadways and the National Center of Meteorology issued a red warning for the Qasim, Eastern Province, Riyadh, and Madinah regions. Tragically, the storms have also claimed lives. According to the Saudi newspaper Okaz, a person was killed and another went missing after heavy rains struck the city of Balasmar, north of Abha, specifically in Wadi Kharef belonging to the Hawra Balasmar center. The victims had boarded their deceased father’s Toyota Land Cruiser to enjoy the rainy weather on Wednesday, crossing Wadi Kharef before a massive torrent swept their vehicle away. Authorities recovered one body while search operations for the other missing person remain ongoing. The severe weather unfolds against a backdrop of regional instability marked by ongoing tensions since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war on Iran at the end of February.

Surface Low-Pressure Systems Bring Hail and High Winds to the UAE

Across the border, the United Arab Emirates faced a second day of stormy weather on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, driven by a surface low-pressure system moving from the east, reinforced by upper-air troughs. The National Center of Meteorology recorded hailstorms in Masafi and Murbad alongside heavy rainfall in Masafi and Watan Street in the Eastern Region, with active to strong winds blowing dust from 1:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Tuesday.

Meteorologists noted that movement from an Arabian Sea low-pressure center toward Oman fueled convective cloud formations. These clouds produced intermittent rain, lightning, thunder, and localized hail across eastern, northern, and interior areas. Strong winds ranging from 10 to 25 kilometers per hour, reaching up to 48 kilometers per hour, whipped up dust and significantly reduced horizontal visibility.

The lowest temperature registered early Tuesday morning dropped to 26.3 degrees Celsius on Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah at 3:15 AM. Maritime conditions remained light to moderate, though waters occasionally turned rough in the Arabian Gulf and Sea of Oman.

Emergency Preparedness and Institutional Response

In response to the intensifying atmospheric instability, the UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority elevated alert levels and readiness for expected weather conditions on Thursday and Friday, as reported by CNN. Following coordination with the Ministry of Interior, authorities recommended remote learning for all educational institutions and remote work for all government entities throughout the weather event.

Authorities also ordered the closure of all roads leading to valleys, water accumulation sites, and dams during the weather period. Aviation operations experienced knock-on effects, with heavy rains in Dubai forcing the diversion of flights to other airports and the cancellation of select flights during nighttime hours.

Weather agencies predict that unstable atmospheric conditions will persist through the remainder of the week. Regional forecasting models indicate that the National Center of Meteorology expects continuing convective clouds over the eastern, southern, and interior areas on Wednesday, July 29, and Thursday, July 30, with a slight rise in temperatures on Thursday and continued chances of afternoon rain through Friday.