Saudi Arabian desert receives snowfall for the first time

Representative image

For the first time in recorded history, the Al-Jawf region of Saudi Arabia witnessed snowfall. In almost a mythical display of events, the desert saw snowfall, followed by torrential rainfall and hail, and waterfalls appearing in the region.

Much to their surprise, Al-Jawf residents woke up to their desert land looking like a winter wonderland with a white pall of snow covering the landscape around them.

Saudi Arabian desert covered in snowThis is the first time in history that the desert has been covered in snow, as temperatures there rarely drop to such levels. A severe hail storm also raged there recently. pic.twitter.com/4wjSaaRMfo

Nurlan Mededov (@mededov_nurlan) November 3, 2024

Capturing the blend of sand and hail, these photos from the Ha'il-Rafha road, taken on Saturday afternoon in 2024. Hamad Al-Saloom. pic.twitter.com/UaGwKmKVQ3 Najdean Memoirs (@NajdiMemoirs) November 3, 2024

In a remarkable turn of events, Saudi Arabia witnessed spells of heavy rain and snowfall for the first time in history. If reports are to go by, the Al-Jawf region experienced heavy snowfall recently, creating a winter wonderland in a country typically known for its arid climate. pic.twitter.com/k0XoUtVJua

Koushik Rudra (@koushikrudra279) November 5, 2024

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the snowfall was the result of the development of a weather pattern that brought along heavy rains, revitalising the arid valleys.

The unforeseen weather events have drawn the attention of meteorologists even as heavy rain and thunderstorm warnings have been issued by the authorities. The UAE's National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has said that a low-pressure system has formed over the Arabian Sea and extended to Oman. This has carried with it moist air, leading to the drastic change in weather conditions.

Meanwhile, the Saudi weather department has warned residents that such weather conditions will continue for the next few days, accompanied by more rainfall, hail, gale, and thunderstorms. As a result, visibility might be affected, thereby, impacting travel, and residents have been advised to take appropriate precautions till the unusual weather persists.

Notably, Saudi Arabia is not the only country that is witnessing this sudden change in weather; the United Arab Emirates (UAE) too reported similar conditions, although there were no reports of snowfall there.