NCM: Thunderstorms to Hit Several Regions Through Wed

The National Center of Meteorology (NCM) has forecast thunderstorms of varying intensity across several regions of Saudi Arabia from Saturday 5 September through Wednesday 9 September 2026. The affected areas include Jazan, Asir, Al-Baha, and the highlands of Makkah, with light to moderate rain extending to Najran and southern parts of Riyadh and the Eastern Region.

Over the five-day window, heavier rainfall is expected on Monday and Tuesday in parts of Jazan and Asir, while moderate to heavy thunderstorms continue across Jazan, Asir, Al-Baha, and Makkah. The NCM's guidance highlights the potential for flash floods in valleys and low-lying areas, reduced horizontal visibility due to dust and heavy rain, possible hail, and strong, gusty winds.

The NCM issues color-coded warnings — yellow, orange, and red — for thunderstorms, heavy rain, flash floods, hail, and dust-raising winds. Red-alert warnings this year have carried same-day validity windows, often between 12 and 24 hours, with explicit start and end times for expected severe conditions in specific regions.

Why it matters for residents

Forecasts are updated several times a day during active weather, with short-range validity windows ranging from a few hours up to a full forecast day, and are adjusted as new data arrives. Residents and visitors are advised to follow the latest bulletins before travel, avoid valleys and flood-prone low areas during heavy rain, and take extra care with reduced visibility.

Access to NCM forecasts and warnings is free of charge through official channels, public apps, and online platforms, and alerts are integrated into national digital systems used for public safety and civil protection. Notably, temperatures of around 47–48°C have been recorded in other regions at the same time as this convective activity in the south and west.

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