SAKAKA, Saudi Arabia – A rural region in the north of Saudi Arabia was covered with hailstones, making the desert landscape covered in white and mimicking a winter wonderland.
The National Center for Meteorology of Saudi Arabia reported that the weather event occurred on November 2, in the Al-Jouf region near the Jordanian border.
Pictures of the desert showed the ground covered in snow and cars and even camels had to wade through the torrential rain.
According to the National Weather Service, the region receives the most rainfall between October and May, making the area perfect for the spring growing season.
“The Al-Jouf district is known for its seasonal wildflowers in the spring, including lavender, daisies, and a variety of aromatic plants,” the Saudi Press Agency said in a statement.
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According to nearby observational data, temperatures likely soared into the 70s and 80s on the day of the hail, which canceled out the snowfall.
No damage was reported from the thunderstorms, but meteorologists warned of possible flooding.
Some people seem to mistakenly call hail as snow, which usually only occurs during the winter months.
Hailstorms are considered to be more common in the northern and western parts of the country due to the cool air that is present at the top.
Hail forms when strong rising winds, usually found in the center of a thunderstorm, carry raindrops aloft. These winds push raindrops into the cold, upper reaches of the storm, where they freeze into hailstones.
As the hail begins to fall, it collects more raindrops on its way into the atmosphere. If they encounter more additions, the hailstones are thrown back into the clouds, where the additional layers of water freeze.
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Hail covered the ground in northern Saudi Arabia on November 2, 2024.
The nearby Jabal Al-Lawz mountain, located in the northwestern part of Saudi Arabia, has an elevation of 8,460 meters and sometimes supports snowfall.
According to forecasts, the snow is visible from December to February, but due to the climate, the snow melts quickly.
The Kingdom is said to be building a state-of-the-art ski resort in the Tabuk mountains, which will rely on man-made snowfall during the colder months.
Source of original article: Photos: Sleeping hail in the Saudi Arabian desert creating a winter-like landscape
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