RAFHA: The hottest period of summer in Saudi Arabia has begun, with several weeks of peak annual temperatures expected in most regions of the Kingdom.
Barjas Al-Fulaih, of the Afaq Society for Astronomy, said this part of the season, which runs from mid-July until early August, is traditionally known as the “date cooker” because the intense heat accelerates the ripening of dates.
He urged the public to follow safety guidelines by avoiding direct sunlight during peak hours and drinking plenty of fluids to prevent the risk of heat stress and sunstroke.
Meanwhile, dust-stirring winds were expected in parts of Jazan, Aseer, Al-Baha, Makkah, Tabuk and Eastern areas on Friday, the National Center for Meteorology said. There was also the possibility of moderate-to-heavy rain and hail in parts of Jazan, Asir, Al-Baha, Makkah and Eastern areas, and light rain in parts of Madinah region.
Temperatures could rise in parts of Eastern and Riyadh regions, and winds over the Red Sea were expected to be northwesterly to westerly at speeds of 20-45 kph in northern and central parts, and northwesterly to northerly at 15-50 kph in southern areas.
