المملكة: 15 weather phenomena during 2024 that reflect climate changes in the Kingdom

The National Center of Meteorology announced the recording of 15 severe weather phenomena that affected the regions of the Kingdom during the year 2024 AD, indicating that these phenomena clearly reflect the impact of climate changes that the Kingdom is witnessing.
The center explained that the most prominent of these phenomena included rising sea levels on the coast of Jeddah, which led to the closure of nearby roads, in addition to heavy hail, which caused traffic disruption.
Some coastal areas also witnessed the formation of waterfalls and moderate-speed tornadoes, as a result of influential weather conditions.

Dust whirlwind

In the Holy Capital, temperatures recorded their highest levels during the Hajj season, reaching 52 degrees Celsius.
As for Abha, a dust storm prevented a plane from landing on the runway, while Jizan witnessed a complete lack of visibility last September due to strong winds and raised dust, with similar conditions recorded in the eastern region during October.
Jizan recorded the highest amount of rain in one day, amounting to 184 mm, during August, in addition to the occurrence of a watershed in October for the second time during the year.
In Mecca, the phenomenon of lightning from the ground to the sky was repeated on the clock tower, while Medina witnessed heavy rains accompanied by falling winds at a speed of 100 km/hour, and an amount of rain amounting to 34 mm in just two hours.

Atmospheric phenomena

The Center indicated that these weather phenomena represent evidence of the increasing environmental challenges as a result of climate change, as changing climate factors lead to an increase in the intensity and frequency of weather phenomena.
The Center confirmed that it is continuing its research and field efforts to study and deal with these phenomena, with the aim of reducing their effects on society and infrastructure, and ensuring the safety of lives and property.