NCM forecasts heavy rains to spread across Kingdom through week

RIYADH — The National Center for Meteorology (NCM) forecasts continued rainfall of varying intensity across most regions of Saudi Arabia until Saturday. The forecast is based on outputs from the Saudi numerical weather model, with the NCM releasing an animated map illustrating the expected movement and intensity of the rain. The NCM has warned that rainfall could be accompanied by high-speed winds reaching 60 km/h, hail, high waves in coastal areas and flash floods. Starting Sunday evening, rainfall is expected to affect Makkah, Asir, Al-Baha, Madinah, Qassim, and the Northern Borders regions, with the heaviest downpours forecast over Taif in Makkah, areas surrounding Hafr Al-Batin in the Eastern Province, and the areas between Madinah and Qassim, according to the map. Rainfall is expected to ease later in the evening and into Monday afternoon. By then, heavy rain will return to much of central Makkah, with scattered showers north of Asir and south of Jazan. Later in the afternoon, moderate to heavy rain will spread across the southwestern regions, affecting Jazan, Asir, and Makkah. Early evening Monday, rainfall intensity will weaken, with the system shifting toward Riyadh and scattered showers reaching the northern parts of the Eastern Province. By Tuesday morning, rainfall will have largely dissipated across the Kingdom, except for light showers in western parts of Riyadh. Later in the morning, these light showers are expected to move toward the capital and surrounding areas before clearing by the afternoon. Tuesday evening, light to moderate rain will redevelop across southern regions, including Najran, Asir, and Makkah, with scattered showers in the northern parts of the Eastern Province. Light rain will continue across several regions until Wednesday evening, when rainfall is expected to intensify over Asir, Najran, and Jazan. Rainfall will then ease, with light showers moving across northern regions between Tabuk, Al-Jouf, and the Northern Borders through Thursday morning. Scattered rain is also expected in northern parts of the Eastern Province. By Thursday evening, moderate to heavy rain will return to central Asir and areas between Najran and Jazan. Conditions will remain mostly dry until Friday afternoon, when moderate to heavy rainfall is forecast to redevelop across southwestern regions, including Jazan, Asir, and Makkah. By early evening, rainfall will continue in these regions while extending into Madinah and Qassim. Later in the evening, intensity will decrease, with showers shifting eastward toward Riyadh and Qassim, affecting northern parts of Riyadh and southern Qassim. Early Saturday morning, rainfall will weaken and largely clear across the Kingdom before returning as light showers over Riyadh, Makkah, and the Eastern Province. By Saturday afternoon, moderate to heavy rain will redevelop over Jazan, Asir, and Makkah before easing and shifting eastward toward Riyadh and the Eastern Province.