RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is expected to experience above-average temperatures across most of the Kingdom through October, with rainfall intensifying from September and potentially reaching heavy to very heavy levels in some areas later in the season, the National Center for Meteorology (NCM) said on Friday.
In a 36-page report, the NCM's three-month climate outlook for August, September and October projects a 60% to 80% probability of above-normal surface temperatures nationwide, with the largest anomalies forecast in August and October, when temperatures could rise by as much as 2.5 degrees Celsius above the long-term average.
August is expected to be the driest month of the three-month period, with below-average rainfall forecast across parts of Jazan, Al-Baha, Najran, Asir, Makkah, Madinah, Tabuk, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, while most other regions are expected to receive near-normal precipitation.
The highest temperature anomalies in August are forecast for western Al-Baha and Asir and southwestern Makkah.
Conditions are expected to shift in September, when rainfall is forecast to rise above average across parts of Tabuk, Madinah, Al-Baha, Asir, Makkah, Qassim, Hail, Al-Jouf and the Northern Borders. The NCM said rainfall during the month could be moderate to heavy, while temperatures are expected to remain up to 2 degrees Celsius above normal across much of the Kingdom.
