Saudi Weather Authority: Winter This Year will not be as cold as past years
Spokesperson for Saudi Arabia's National Center of Meteorology (NCM), Hussein Al-Qahtani stated that although the nation will have a cold winter, it will not be as harsh as in past years. Al-Qahtani underlined in an interview on the "120 Program" aired by Al-Ekhbariya channel that while temperatures are predicted to dip, they will not reach the record low levels observed in past winters.
Al-Qahtani said the NCM intends to publish a thorough winter climate report, which will offer a thorough study of the projected climatic conditions and weather patterns over the next months. This paper will act as a guide for knowing the possible course of the season over the kingdom.
Reacting to some rumors about an abnormally severe winter, the NCM aimed to clear some misunderstandings by means of its Regional Climate Change Center. The agency released a statement last month rejecting claims of a severe and protracted winter linked to the La Niña weather event. These reports, according to the NCM, are erroneous and do not match the present meteorological data for the approaching winter.
The NCM underlined that official projections indicate the winter would be somewhat moderate, with temperatures projected to be rather normal for the season. Certain areas can see a minor temperature rise—possibly one degree Celsius. These developments, however, are not supposed to produce the severe cold conditions some have talked about.
The center also underlined the need of obtaining information about weather from official sources. It warned the people to ignore unauthorized forecasts and opinions that can cause false information or unwarranted worry. The NCM seeks to produce dependable, scientifically supported weather forecasts to guarantee that people and residents are ready for the winter without becoming victims of false or too optimistic projections.
Cited in some of the erroneous forecasts, the La Niña phenomena is a natural climate pattern marked by Pacific Ocean sea surface temperatures below average. Although La Niña can affect world climate patterns, the NCM has made clear that its effect on Saudi Arabia 's winter this year is projected to be negligible. The examination of present climatic data by the center refutes the idea of a very severe winter connected with this phenomena.
Al-Qahtani's remarks and the NCM's corrections seek to right the record about Saudi Arabia's forthcoming winter. Although lower temperatures are expected, the general picture points to a season more in line with historical standards, free from the extreme cold some projections have recommended.
The NCM counsels to rely on official meteorological updates from the center as winter arrives and to keep informed by reliable sources. The forecast minor temperature drop this winter will probably be tolerable, and the season seems to be less severe than first projected.