The General Directorate of Civil Defense in Saudi Arabia has issued a public safety warning as thunderstorms are expected to affect several regions across the Kingdom

.This warning is in line with expected severe weather: heavy rain, hail, and high winds capable of posing hazards including flooding. Particularly since thunderstorms are expected to linger until Wednesday, January 8, the Civil Defense is advising locals to use great care throughout this period. The Directorate has underlined the need of remaining in safe areas, far from valleys, and places vulnerable to flooding. These sites, especially those close to water bodies, are regarded as high risk and the public is urged not to swim in such places during the storm.

The Civil Defense has underlined that the public has to follow the safety recommendations provided by the Directorate on several social media channels, where frequent updates regarding the weather and safety measures are being published. Given the erratic character of the storm system projected to affect various areas of the Kingdom, this call to attention is extremely crucial. The advise emphasizes the need of being ready and counsels people to stay home whenever they can and to refrain from unnecessary travel.

Forecasts for the Makkah area indicate that the storm will mostly affect it; torrential downpours, hail, and strong gusts able to stir up dust and lower visibility are expected. Among the various important Makkah region areas predicted to be impacted by the storm are Makkah City, Jeddah, Bahra, Al-Jumum, Rabigh, Kholais, and Al-Kamel. People living in these places should be ready for abrupt and strong weather changes since, particularly in low-lying areas, heavy rain and probable hailstorms can cause localized floods.

Apart from Makkah, other areas of the Kingdom are expected to get notable precipitation. The western areas-Taif, Maysan, Al-Muwayh, Turbah, Al-Khurma, Rania, Al-Laith, Al-Qunfudah-expected moderate to heavy rain. Particularly in places with inadequate drainage system, these regions will probably see thunderstorms that could cause flash floods. In these places, people are advised to remain vigilant about the shifting weather and keep away from places might get watery.

With forecasts of mild to torrential rain and the likelihood of hailstorms, the Riyadh area is also on the route of the storm. These weather are predicted to cause interruptions in daily activities, particularly if roads get slick or visibility is hampered because of strong rain and hail. The people living in the Riyadh area are encouraged to be careful while driving, especially in places where the rainfall can bring brief flooding or slippery road conditions.

The storm spans not just the western and central areas. The Civil Defense has also noted areas in Saudi Arabia's northern and eastern sections that would see moderate to heavy rain: Significant rain will affect places including Tabuk, Al-Jouf, the Northern Borders, Hail, Qassim, the Eastern Province, and Madinah, which can cause localized flooding in sensitive locations. Residents advised to stay home and refrain from needless travel; the weather is predicted to impact these locations in a similar manner as it does the other impacted ones.

The Civil Defense keeps underlining throughout this period the need of regularly monitoring weather updates via reliable sources, including official government sources and social media platforms. Working closely with local authorities, the Directorate guarantees that the public is ready for any crisis by means of information campaigns. Individuals are advised to avoid locations prone to flooding, observe all safety guidelines, and act to protect their houses and goods from any storm damage.