NCM forecasts heavy rain across four Saudi regions through Sunday

JEDDAH — The National Center for Meteorology (NCM) forecasts heavy rain across several regions, as rainfall of varying intensity is expected to continue over parts of the Kingdom from Wednesday through Sunday. According to the NCM, heavy rain may be accompanied by strong downdraft winds reaching 60 km/h or more, near-zero horizontal visibility, hail, flash floods, high waves along coastal areas and possible tornadoes or waterspouts. In Jazan, moderate to heavy rain is forecast over Harub, Al-Rayth, Al-Dayer, Al-Eidabi, Fayfa, Al-Aridah, Al-Harth, Al-Tuwal, Al-Darb, Baysh, Sabya, Damad, Abu Arish, Ahad Al-Masarhah and Samtah. In Asir, moderate to heavy rain is forecast over Abha, Khamis Mushait, Ahad Rafidah, Sarat Abidah, Al-Harajah, Dhahran Al-Janub, Al-Farshah, Al-Namas, Tanomah, Rijal Almaa, Bareq, Mahayil Asir, Al-Majardah and Balqarn. In Al-Baha Region, moderate to heavy rain is forecast over Al-Baha, Baljurashi, Al-Mandaq, Qilwah, Bani Hassan, Al-Qara, Al-Makhwah, Al-Hajrah and Ghamid Al-Zinad. In Makkah Region, moderate to heavy rain is forecast over Taif, Maysan, Adham and Al-Ardiyat, while Makkah is expected to receive light to moderate rain. Light to moderate rain is also forecast over Madinah, Al-Ula and Khaybar in Madinah Region. According to the NCM, light rain corresponds to 1–4 mm per hour, moderate rain to 5–9 mm per hour, and heavy rain to 10–50 mm per hour or more. The NCM’s initial forecasts indicate that rainfall could continue over some affected areas through the end of next week.