Al-Jawf region

For the first time in the history of Saudi Arabia, the desert area around the Al-Jawf region is witnessing an unexpected weather phenomenon such as heavy snowfall.

• Due to heavy rainfall and hail, many mountainous parts of the Al-Jawf region of Saudi Arabia are experiencing a cold wave of snowfall. Although this region is known for its dry climate throughout the year.
• This unexpected weather phenomenon has also affected other regions. This unexpected winter weather demonstrates the climate pattern developing in West Asia where even the driest region can undergo significant changes.
• According to the National Meteorological Center of the United Arab Emirates, the cause of these unusual hailstorms is a low pressure system extending from the Arabian Sea to Oman.
• This weather pattern causes the entry of moist air into the usually dry region, causing thunderstorms, hail and rain in Saudi Arabia and the neighboring United Arab Emirates.
• According to experts, such unusual weather events including snowfall in deserts are becoming more frequent due to changing atmospheric conditions under the influence of global climate change.

Other examples of snowfall in desert region:

• Although snowfall is rare in Saudi Arabia, this is not the first incident of snowfall in the desert region.
• A few years ago, a town in the Sahara desert with very high temperatures (often over 58 0C) experienced a dramatic drop in temperature to -2 °C, resulting in unexpected snowfall.
• Such events are often attributed to the wider effects of climate change.
• According to the World Bank, West Asia is one of the most vulnerable regions to climate-related impacts. An increase in average temperature can lead to rapid irregularities in weather patterns and extreme conditions.