Saudi Arabia, a country best known for its extreme heat and vast desert landscapes, recently experienced an unusual winter weather event that surprised both residents and experts. Large parts of the country witnessed snowfall, heavy rainfall, and a sharp drop in temperatures, creating scenes rarely seen in the region.

Snowfall was reported in northern Saudi Arabia, especially in Tabuk Province. Mountain areas in the region, including Trojena, a high-altitude destination located on Jebel Al-Lawz, were covered in a layer of snow. Jebel Al-Lawz rises to about 2,600 metres above sea level, and the cold conditions made it possible for snow to settle across the mountains. Light rainfall was also reported in the area.

Other regions also saw rare winter conditions. Parts of the Hail Region, including areas around Hail city, experienced snowfall, something that does not happen often in Saudi Arabia. In several locations, temperatures dropped below 0 degrees Celsius during the early morning hours, creating favourable conditions for snow to form on higher ground.

Along with snowfall, widespread rainfall was recorded across many parts of the country. Light to moderate rain was seen in places such as Bir Bin Hermas, Al-Ayinah, Ammar, AlUla Governorate, Shaqra, and nearby areas. Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rainfall affected major regions including Riyadh, Qassim, and parts of eastern Saudi Arabia.

What causing snowfall in Saudi Arabia

According to the National Centre for Meteorology (NCM), snowfall was also observed in Al-Majmaah and Al-Ghat, located north of Riyadh. Snow accumulated on open land and elevated areas, drawing the attention of locals. Hussein Al-Qahtani, the official spokesperson of the NCM, explained that the unusual weather was caused by a cold air mass moving into the central and northern regions of the country. This cold air interacted with rain-bearing clouds, leading to snowfall and heavy rain.

Authorities warned that temperatures are expected to remain low in the coming days, especially in northern and central regions. Residents were advised to drive carefully and stay away from valleys that could flood due to heavy rainfall. As a precaution, authorities in Riyadh shifted schools to remote learning last week because of the harsh weather conditions.

Images and videos of snow-covered mountains in Saudi Arabia quickly spread across social media, attracting crowds to areas like Al-Majmaah and Al-Ghat. While many people were excited to witness the rare sight, officials urged caution.

Experts say that while such events can be explained by specific weather patterns, their increasing frequency raises concerns about climate change. Similar unusual weather has been seen in other parts of the world, including unexpected rain in the UAE, flash floods in dry regions, record heatwaves in South Asia, and snowfall in parts of Europe and North Africa.