The Saudi Arabian Desert Sees Snowfall For the First Time

Saudi Arabian desert witnessed snow for the first time, completely altering the landscape into one of picturesque beauty. The strange phenomenon was caused due to the flooding and hailstorms that took place before it.

The desert is characterized by sand seas and huge gravel plains with a nether world of flora and fauna hidden behind dry riverbeds.

Climate Change

Whereas Saudi Arabia has a desert climate, there are certain areas of the kingdom which have cooler winters. For instance, Tabuk in the north has brief but cold winters with occasional snowfall as a result of being on high and hilly areas. The place is quite a favorite for people in the Gulf Cooperation Council who want to escape from the extreme heat in summers.

On the other hand the peculiar weather this year does not bode well for people in the region due to climate change. The kingdom witnessed its first snow in the al jawf area this month due to a snowstorm which transformed the dry land to complete white beauty. Many people even took the opportunity to post astonishing pictures of the rare occurrence on social media, some using this to make fun of climate change deniers.

The recent winterlike conditions in the Kingdom have brought snowfall that has not been experienced for quite a while. The National Center of Meteorology in Saudi Arabia attributed the snowfall to a low-pressure system that brought moisture-laden air into the area. Such weather phenomena also resulted in rains, thunderstorms, as well as hailstorm events in the entire Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and in Oman.

While it is true that it has been snowing in some places like the Amazon rainforest and in the Antarctica, it is not common for snow to fall in the Arabian Peninsula. in the Arabian Peninsula, areas like the mountains and highlands get snow. Such regions usually have greater elevation with temperatures quite low in comparison to the central and coastal regions.

The Kingdom’s climate is hot and dry for the most part, but there can also be areas particularly in the northern mountain ranges where winter temperatures can be below zero degrees centigrade. Riyadh experiences long periods of sunny climate while Jeddah is more temperate with moderate rainfall. In general the amount of sunshine across the Kingdom does not seem to be consistent.

Experts say the recent snowfall in the northern region of the Saudi Arabian desert can be linked to a low-pressure system that brought moist air into the region. This resulted in thunderstorms, hailstorms, and Al-Jawf, a mountainous region, witnessed snowfall. The unusual event has attracted a lot of interest, with social media users sharing incredible views of the mesmerizing snow-covered terrain on the internet.

This document serves the purpose of explaining the current climatology of Saudi Arabia, 1991-2020 based on the historical literature. This is meant to scope out the targets of which editing one’s approaches day forecasting can be based upon. Data are made available at a country level geoscale and can also be viewed at finer geographical levels. The graphs included in this volume depict the seasonal cycle of average temperature and precipitation.

Snowfall

Surprisingly, the southern extremities of Saudi Arabia have not recorded snowfall till now. So, it comes as quite a surprise that the extreme northern part of Saudi Arabia, the al-Jawaf Province witnessed snowfall for the first time in history. Saudi nationals familiar with its topography were left flabbergasted. These temperatures plummeting below freezing in an area characterized by vast stretches of dry desert. It was a meteorological event the world will not forget in a hurry. Videos, snapped by citizens showing desert-like landscapes entirely covered with snow surfaced on the internet. The sudden drop in temperature also caused parts of the region that had not seen water in a long time to come rushing to life.

People were curious as to how a place characterized by high temperatures can even experience such an unusual drop so it is believed by the National Centre of Meteorology that a low-pressure system brought with it, humid air. Such hot air combines with the extreme desert temperatures to give birth to thunderstorms which lead to snowfall. When photos of these marvelous landscapes emerged, social media users were quick to discuss the events surrounding climate change.

The local agriculture sector has prospered from the snowfall as it enhances the fertility of the soil and enables the cultivation of varieties of vegetables and fruit plants. Taking advantage of this, the farmers have already set in motion the process of sowing for the vibrant wildflowers that will bloom in the upcoming spring season. With that said, that there’s a potential for more harsh storms in the near future, relying on the past events and the fact this isn’t some permanent occurrence. It is crucial to bear in mind that even with the benefits that it left, snowfall is not an ideal weather cycle.

Hailstorms

Recently, the dramatic snowy desert-esque views of the Al-Jawf region of Saudi Arabia have become of great relevance for people across the globe. When in previous time the arid sand dunes were witnessed as golden and were sizzling in the sun were swap swapped coating of inches of pure ice and hail. Such drastic weather changes have had people having discussions related to climate change and its impact across the globe.

This sight occurred after heavy rain and hailstorm which affected the region in the previous week. The fact that snow has vividly shown itself in the mountains of Al-Jawf is a mark of record weather changes in the kingdom. Both visitors and residents are now able to experience once in a lifetime chance to attain the vision of the snowy area in the region known for desert landscapes.

Sure, here is a list of several rewritten paragraphs that reflect the required dynamic structure and content while retaining the original meaning. You can take as many as you need: In a desert, snow is likely to be event but this event brings to light the worrying trend of changing weather patterns across the globe, due to global warming and other such causes. Scientist argue that droughts and wet periods are becoming more extreme around the world mostly due to fluctuations in the climate. Snow has been prevalent in other areas of Saudi Arabia in the last few years but the Al-Jawf region has witnessed snow for the first time, in February 2024, Al-Lawz mountains which are northwest of Tabuk received snow in marbaniya season, although these events are rare it shows that other parts of Saudi Arabia do not necessarily have a hot climate. Probably Al Jawf has recently witnessed snowfall for the first time, but Al Jawf region is not the only one to have witnessed these occurrences in the last few years. This however does not change the fact there are other places in the country where winter weather is not too far out of reach.