Torrential Rains in 7 Saudi Regions, Riyadh Records Highest Precipitation Level

Heavy rains in the Riyadh (Photo by: Bashir Saleh)
Heavy rains in the Riyadh (Photo by: Bashir Saleh)
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Torrential Rains in 7 Saudi Regions, Riyadh Records Highest Precipitation Level

Heavy rains in the Riyadh (Photo by: Bashir Saleh)
Heavy rains in the Riyadh (Photo by: Bashir Saleh)

The National Center of Meteorology said that moderate to heavy thunderstorms, accompanied by active winds stirring dust and hail showers, are likely to cause torrential rains in parts of the regions of Al-Jawf, Al-Qassim, Al-Sharqiya, Asir, Al-Baha, and Makkah Al-Mukarramah, while light to moderate rain is expected in parts of Hail, Najran, Jazan, and Tabuk regions.

The center added that surface winds will be active, causing dust, which may harm horizontal visibility over parts of the regions of Hail, Al-Qassim, Al-Jawf, Tabuk, and the eastern parts of the regions of Makkah Al-Mukarramah and Medina.

The Riyadh region recorded the highest average amounts of rainfall, at 26 mm in Shaqra Governorate. The National Center of Meteorology warned of the continued rainy conditions in the Riyadh region, which includes the capital, Riyadh, and the governorates of Diriyah, Huraymila, Rumah, Durma, Zulfi, Al-Ghat, Al-Majma’ah, Shaqra, Marat, and Thadig, accompanied by high-speed winds and lack of horizontal visibility, in addition to hail storms and torrential rains.

The center also warned of moderate rain conditions accompanied by active winds and almost no horizontal visibility in the governorates of Al-Aflaj, Al-Hareeq, Al-Kharj, Al-Dalam, Al-Muzahmiya, Hotat Bani Tamim, Al-Rain, and Al-Quwayiyah.

According to the daily report of the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, which monitors rainfall amounts across Saudi regions, 84 hydrological and climatic monitoring stations recorded rainfall in the regions of Riyadh, Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Al-Qassim, Al-Sharqiyah, Asir, the northern border, and Al-Jawf, from 9 am on Saturday until 9 am the next day.



Strongest Winds in Over a Decade Could Increase Fire Risk to Southern California

FILE - Flags fly under heavy winds before sunset as a plume of smoke from the Franklin Fire rises over the ocean Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes,File)
FILE - Flags fly under heavy winds before sunset as a plume of smoke from the Franklin Fire rises over the ocean Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes,File)
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Strongest Winds in Over a Decade Could Increase Fire Risk to Southern California

FILE - Flags fly under heavy winds before sunset as a plume of smoke from the Franklin Fire rises over the ocean Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes,File)
FILE - Flags fly under heavy winds before sunset as a plume of smoke from the Franklin Fire rises over the ocean Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes,File)

The strongest winds in more than a decade could hit Southern California on Tuesday, potentially causing structural damage and bringing extreme fire risk to areas that haven't seen substantial rain in months.

Beginning Tuesday afternoon, the windstorm will affect Los Angeles and Ventura counties and peak in the early hours of Wednesday, when gusts could reach 80 mph (129 kph), the National Weather Service said Monday.

Isolated gusts could top 100 mph (160 kph) in mountains and foothills, The Associated Press reported.

The weather service warned of downed trees and knocked over big rigs, trailers, and motorhomes. Powerful offshore gusts will also bring dangerous conditions off the coasts of Orange County and LA, including Catalina Island, and potential delays and turbulence could arise at local airports.
Public safety power shutoffs are being considered for nearly 300,000 customers across the region, according to Southern California Edison’s website.

The upcoming winds will act as an “atmospheric blow-dryer” for vegetation, bringing a long period of fire risk that could extend into the more populated lower hills and valleys, according to Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with the University of California, Los Angeles and the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

“We really haven't seen a season as dry as this one follow a season as wet as the previous one,” Swain said during a Monday livestream. “All of that extra abundant growth of grass and vegetation followed immediately by a wind event of this magnitude while it's still so incredibly dry," elevates the risk.
Recent dry winds, including the notorious Santa Anas, have contributed to warmer-than-average temperatures in Southern California, where there’s been very little rain so far this season.
Southern California hasn’t seen more than 0.1 inches (0.25 centimeters) of rain since early May. Much of the region has fallen into moderate drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Meanwhile, up north, there have been multiple drenching storms.
Areas where gusts could create extreme fire conditions include the charred footprint of last month’s wind-driven Franklin Fire, which damaged or destroyed 48 structures, mostly homes, in and around Malibu.
The blaze was one of nearly 8,000 wildfires that added up to scorch more than 1,560 square miles (more than 4,040 square kilometers) in the Golden State last year.
The last wind event of this magnitude occurred in November 2011, according to the NWS, during which more than 400,000 customers throughout LA County lost power, the Los Angeles Times reported. At night, normally bustling streets were dim and left without traffic signals.
Planned power shutoffs for the public's safety, if deemed necessary, are projected to happen Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Southern California Edison.
“The grid is built to withstand strong winds,” said Jeff Monford, a spokesperson for the utility. “The issue here is the possibility of debris becoming airborne and hitting wires ... or a tree coming down.”