Saudi Arabia experiences rare snowfall and sub-zero mercury amid unusual cold snap: here’s why it’s happening
A country known worldwide for its scorching summers and arid deserts woke up to an unexpected winter spectacle as snow, rain and freezing temperatures swept across parts of Saudi Arabia, taking residents by surprise and prompting safety advisories.
Large swaths of the kingdom have experienced an abrupt climate change in recent days, with snowfall reported in northern regions and widespread rain causing temperatures to drop significantly. These rare conditions have sparked both excitement and caution, while once again highlighting how extreme weather events are appearing in places historically unaccustomed to them, a trend increasingly linked to climate change.
Snowfall was recorded in northern Saudi Arabia, significantly changing the rugged mountainous terrain of Tabuk province. High altitude areas, including Trojena on Jebel Al-Lawz, which rises to around 2,600 meters, were covered in snow, accompanied by light rain. Parts of the Hail region, including areas surrounding the town of Hail, also reported snowfall, an exceptionally rare event for the desert country.
Morning temperatures fell below 0 degrees Celsius in some places, allowing snow to settle on high ground. The cold snap was not limited to snowfall alone; the rain also affected several regions simultaneously.
Light to moderate rains were observed in Bir Bin Hermas, Al-Ayinah, Ammar, AlUla Governorate, Shaqra and neighboring areas. Heavier rains hit Riyadh, Qassim and parts of the eastern region, raising concerns about localized flooding.
According to the National Center of Meteorology, snow was also seen in Al-Majmaah and Al-Ghat, north of Riyadh, where open land and higher terrain briefly transformed into winter landscapes. The weather agency attributed the conditions to a cold air mass moving towards central and northern Saudi Arabia and interacting with rain-bearing cloud systems.
Hussein Al-Qahtani, official spokesperson for the MNC, said temperatures were expected to remain low, particularly in the northern and central regions, and urged residents to drive carefully and avoid valleys vulnerable to water accumulation.
As images and videos of snow-capped mountains spread quickly on social media, crowds gathered in areas such as Al-Majmaah and Al-Ghat to witness the unusual spectacle. Faced with continued unfavorable conditions, authorities in Riyadh last week moved schools to online classes as a preventative measure.
While meteorologists attribute specific atmospheric dynamics to the cold snap, the increasing recurrence of such anomalies continues to fuel the debate over climate volatility. Similar phenomena, from unexpected winter rains in the United Arab Emirates to flash floods in arid regions of the Middle East and record heatwaves in South Asia, highlight how familiar climate norms are becoming increasingly unpredictable.
