Heavy rain, thunderstorms forecast across southwestern Saudi Arabia through Saturday

JEDDAH — Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are forecast to continue affecting several parts of the Kingdom’s southwestern coast through Saturday, according to the National Center for Meteorology (NCM). According to projections from the Saudi Numerical Model and an animated map issued by the NCM, moderate to heavy rainfall is expected across most of Jazan’s coast on Wednesday afternoon, with lighter showers over southern Asir and areas along the border between Asir and Al-Baha. Heavy rainfall is expected to persist until early evening before weakening and becoming more scattered across the affected areas, eventually clearing by late evening. Early Thursday morning, light rainfall is forecast over southern Asir before dispersing and shifting toward Jazan’s Farasan Islands. Rainfall is expected to clear temporarily before light to moderate showers return to southern Jazan later in the morning. By the afternoon, light showers are forecast across most of Jazan and a small area in northern Asir. Later in the afternoon, light showers are expected around Taif in the Makkah region and across small areas of northern Asir, while rainfall continues over most of Jazan. Between the afternoon and evening, rainfall is expected to intensify from light showers to moderate and heavy rain across Jazan, extending into much of western Asir. By early evening, rainfall along the border between Asir and Jazan is forecast to intensify further, accompanied by thunderstorms, before gradually weakening and clearing later in the evening. No further rainfall is forecast until Friday morning, when light showers are expected over southern Asir and eastern Jazan. Rain is then expected to subside until the afternoon, when moderate rainfall is forecast across most of Jazan, with lighter showers east of Taif and over small areas of northwestern Asir. Later Friday afternoon, rainfall over western Asir is expected to intensify, while showers across Jazan are forecast to weaken. On Saturday morning, light rain is forecast over a small area east of Taif in the Makkah region and parts of western Asir. By early evening, heavier showers are expected near Jazan city and over a small section of Asir’s coast. Later in the evening, light showers are forecast to become scattered across parts of Makkah, Al-Baha, Asir and Jazan.