WATCH: Heavy rain and flooding hit Saudi Arabia, with thunderstorms and unstable weather heading for the UAE
Folks, you might have seen the incredible scenes online yesterday. Makkah was hit by a phenomenal downpour, a sight that's not just rare but truly awe-inspiring. Saudi Arabia copped an exceptional weather system, and the holiest city bore the brunt of it, recording the highest rainfall in the entire kingdom. The footage flooding social media was something else. But this system isn't done yet. Its effects have spread across vast areas, and Saudi authorities wasted no time in issuing urgent warnings for residents in six key regions, including Riyadh and the Eastern Province.
Official Warnings: Don't mess with floodwaters
Anyone who follows Saudi weather knows they don't mess around when the rain hits, especially with this level of volatility. Yesterday, as the thunderstorms rolled on, officials made a direct plea to citizens and residents to be ultra-cautious. They specifically warned about:
- The extreme danger of driving through valleys (wadis) or any area where water pools.
- Staying well clear of power lines and light poles during and after the rain.
- Sticking to official channels for weather updates and ignoring rumours flying around online.
These warnings are timely, because the rainfall in Makkah was record-breaking, and experts reckon more could be on the way for other parts of the country in the coming days.
So, what about the UAE weather? Here comes the low
Of course, we here in the UAE know that when a big low-pressure system hits our neighbours to the west, we usually feel the ripple effects. Our official weather authorities are keeping a close eye on the cold air mass trailing this system. It's not looking as intense for us as it has been for Saudi, not yet anyway. But conditions are ripe for some cumulus cloud build-up over eastern and northern areas, bringing a chance of light to moderate rain that could even extend to some islands. I'd say we can expect humidity to climb noticeably towards the end of the week, so be prepared for a sudden dip in temperatures.
It's a community thing: Getting our heads around extreme weather
This big rain event isn't just a one-off news story. It's a clear sign of the climate change the whole world is grappling with. These periods of unstable weather are becoming more violent and harder to predict. Even the big international reference agencies put out their seasonal forecasts last week, warning of unusual weather patterns for the Middle East this spring. And you can bet this will be a hot topic at the UN Climate Change Conference 2025, where countries will be under pressure to lift their game against global warming.
For us, day to day, awareness is our best defence. We need to understand that an accurate weather forecast isn't a luxury—it's essential for keeping people and property safe. That's why I always say, stick to the official updates, take those warnings from authorities seriously, and make sure the kids know what to do in an emergency. The sky doesn't always rain roses, and even good, life-giving rain comes with a responsibility.