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)
TT

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.



Australian Hiker Found Alive after Surviving for Two Weeks on Berries and Muesli Bars

A general view of Cooma Hospital where hiker Hadi Nazari was transferred to for a health check in Cooma, New South Wales, Australia, 08 January 2025. (EPA)
A general view of Cooma Hospital where hiker Hadi Nazari was transferred to for a health check in Cooma, New South Wales, Australia, 08 January 2025. (EPA)
TT

Australian Hiker Found Alive after Surviving for Two Weeks on Berries and Muesli Bars

A general view of Cooma Hospital where hiker Hadi Nazari was transferred to for a health check in Cooma, New South Wales, Australia, 08 January 2025. (EPA)
A general view of Cooma Hospital where hiker Hadi Nazari was transferred to for a health check in Cooma, New South Wales, Australia, 08 January 2025. (EPA)

An Australian student missing for two weeks near the country's tallest mountain was found on Wednesday, after surviving by foraging for berries, drinking water from a creek and finding two muesli bars left behind by other hikers, police said.

Hadi Nazari, a 23-year-old university student from Melbourne, went missing from his group of friends on December 26 in the Kosciuszko National Park.

Nazari was found on Wednesday afternoon by a group of hikers who alerted the authorities, police in the state of New South Wales said.

“This is the fourteenth day we've been looking for him and for him to come out and be in such good spirits and in such great condition, it’s incredible," NSW Police Inspector Josh Broadfoot said.

The student was in "really good spirits" with no significant injuries, he added.

More than 300 people had searched for Nazari across rugged bushland, police said. The national park is home to the 2,228 meter (7,310 foot) Mount Kosciuszko.