Saudi Arabia weather alert: Temperature to drop −3°C across northern and central regions this weekend

Saudi Arabia is set to see a sharp drop in temperatures across multiple regions of the Kingdom starting today, as a cold wave pushes in from the north and gradually spreads southward, bringing below-freezing readings and unusually cold conditions through the weekend.

Weather forecasts issued by the National Centre for Meteorology indicate that the cold spell will begin today and persist until Saturday. The first regions expected to be affected include Tabuk, Al-Jawf, the Northern Borders, and Hail, in addition to the northern areas of the Madinah region. These locations are forecast to experience freezing temperatures during the night and early morning.

Minimum temperatures in the initially affected regions are expected to fall between −3°C and −1°C. As the cold air mass continues to advance, the NCM said it will move further south on Friday and Saturday, extending its impact to the Qassim region, northern parts of the Eastern Province, and Riyadh. In these areas, temperatures are forecast to drop even lower, with minimum readings ranging from −4°C to 1°C, levels considered notably cold for this time of year.

The NCM has called on residents in all affected regions to take precautions against the cold, particularly during overnight hours, and emphasized the importance of staying updated through its official platforms as weather conditions continue to develop.