JEDDAH — Heavy thunderstorms and rainfall are forecast to affect parts of Saudi Arabia through Saturday, according to the National Center for Meteorology (NCM).

According to an animated map issued by the NCM based on outputs from the Saudi Numerical Model, light to moderate rain will begin affecting most of southern Asir, areas around Abha, and eastern parts of Jazan from early Sunday evening.

Later in the evening, lighter rainfall will continue over western parts of Asir and small areas along the western borders of the Riyadh region before gradually disappearing from the Kingdom.

No significant rainfall is forecast until late Monday afternoon, when brief light showers are expected over western parts of Asir.

By late Tuesday afternoon, light rain is forecast over small areas of southern Asir and southern parts of Makkah for a short period.

On Wednesday afternoon, very light rain is expected over small areas of the southeastern Eastern Province, southern Najran, and southern parts of Makkah before moving southward and leaving the Kingdom.

Thursday afternoon will bring scattered light rainfall to Asir, areas along the Makkah-Riyadh border, and small parts of southern Najran.

Later that afternoon, rainfall is expected to intensify across eastern Jazan and western Asir, while lighter rain spreads along the Makkah-Riyadh border. Light showers are also forecast over southeastern parts of the Eastern Province.

By Thursday evening, the rain will weaken and spread farther north, reaching Al-Baha, southern parts of Makkah, northwestern Riyadh, and southeastern Madinah. Rainfall is expected to continue in these areas until early Friday morning.

Later Friday morning, most rainfall will have disappeared from the Kingdom, with some light showers remaining along the Eastern Province-Najran border before clearing completely in the afternoon.

Light rain will then return to small areas of southern Najran and areas around Taif in the Makkah region.

By late Friday afternoon, rainfall is expected to intensify significantly along the western parts of the Kingdom, particularly across the entire Asir-Jazan border and much of Al-Baha. As the rain moves northward into Makkah, it will weaken considerably while affecting Taif and the Holy Capital.

By early Friday evening, rainfall will weaken and become more scattered while moving northward, reaching northwestern parts of Riyadh and eastern parts of Madinah. Rain will continue over parts of Asir, Jazan, and Al-Baha.

Later in the evening, rainfall is expected to clear from Jazan and Asir, while light, scattered showers continue over Al-Baha, Makkah, and southern parts of Madinah.

Scattered light rain will continue across much of Makkah until early Saturday morning.

By Saturday afternoon, light to moderate rain is forecast across the Asir-Jazan border and western parts of Al-Baha, where rainfall could intensify significantly. Light showers will also affect areas along the Madinah-Makkah border.

Late Saturday afternoon, heavier rainfall is expected to continue over Jazan and Asir, while most parts of Makkah experience lighter, scattered showers.

By late Saturday evening and early Sunday morning, rainfall is forecast to clear from the Kingdom.

Source:Saudi Gazette