Heavy Rain, Thunderstorms Hit Makkah and Grand Mosque

Heavy rain and thunderstorms swept over Makkah and the area of the Grand Mosque on 13–14 September 2026, bringing periods of moderate to heavy downpour along with hail. Despite the weather, worshippers at Masjid al-Haram continued their Maghrib prayers, circumambulation of the Kaaba and other rituals in the open courtyards, where flowing water covered the marble floors.

The National Center for Meteorology issued red alerts for heavy rain and thunderstorms capable of causing flash floods across parts of the Makkah region in early to mid-September 2026, including the Holy Capital and nearby governorates. Early-warning bulletins pointed to heavy-rain conditions beginning around midday and easing by evening on designated days, accompanied by active winds, reduced horizontal visibility, hail, torrential rain and thunder strikes.

Civil Defense on high readiness

Civil Defense in Makkah moved to operational alert for the storm systems affecting the Holy Capital. Authorities urged the public to avoid valleys, low-lying areas and flood-prone zones, to stay clear of wadis and places where water accumulates, and to follow the instructions of security and civil-defense personnel on site.

Entry to the Grand Mosque remains free of charge for worshippers, and no special paid permits, fees or new procedures have been introduced in connection with praying or remaining at the mosque during heavy rain. Standard Hajj and Umrah rules and entry regulations continue to apply.

For residents and visitors, the safest approach is to rely on official channels: the National Center for Meteorology for real-time, color-coded warnings (red, orange and yellow), and Civil Defense public alerts and safety guidance shared through official applications and platforms. As of mid-September 2026, the changes tied directly to the rain are limited to temporary emergency warnings, readiness of civil-defense and mosque teams, and on-the-ground crowd and safety management — with no permanent new fee or permit system reported.

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