Is Snow Falling a Rare Phenomenon in Saudi Arabia? 

A viral video depicting snow falling in Saudi Arabia claims it to be a rare phenomenon in the country. Saudi Arabia is a country which is known for its deserts, high temperatures, and dry weather. Therefore, thousands of social media users shared these scenes, assuming to be a rare phenomenon. However, Climate Fact Checks Team found that snowing in Saudi Arabia has been happening for a long time.

Social Media Posts

A social media post was shared on Twitter with millions of views with the caption, “Global Warming strikes again, first snow in Saudi Arabia in 100 years”.

It also shows a group of camels lying on the ground, partially covered with snow, with heavy snowfalls in the background.

Twitter | Archived

We decided to do a fact-check on this.

Fact Check

Using a keyword search we were able to locate old news reports related to this incident. 

Here is the same video posted back on 18th February 2018 on ‘Gulf Today’ titled “Camels turn white as snow blankets parts of Saudi Arabia.”

The accompanying ‘Gulf Today’ news report stated that many parts of the countries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel, were experiencing snowfall in February 2021.

 “In some areas, it has led to road blockades and postponement of vaccination campaigns and has even hit exams at some universities. The Tabuk region of Saudi Arabia also experienced snowfall on Thursday. The adjoining mountainous region, including Jebel Al Lawz, was covered with white snow. A video of a couple of camels seen sitting on a path covered in snow has gone viral.”, the report says.

The region witnessed a polar wave that led to snowfall that covered most of its wild and mountainous areas.

“The area is a tourist destination, and snowfall enhances natural beauty. People came from different regions to observe the snow and enjoy the beauty and splendor of these destinations. Social media photos show mountains turning white with snow. On the other hand, many government agencies in the Tabuk region have intensified rescue operations along the roads leading to the sites of snowfall as the roads have become slippery.  Motorists are advised to drive carefully to avoid accidents.”, says Gulf Today. The report from 2021 can be read here. Archived.

Is it abnormal to witness snowfall in Saudi Arabia?

The “Visit Saudi” website says, “Yes, snow does fall in Saudi, particularly in the mountains of the northern regions. Enjoy views of frosted shrubs and blanketed mountain peaks and watch camels shuffling through winter’s magical flurries. When snow falls in Saudi, the excitement among locals is contagious. Celebrate a seasonal dusting like a local by going on a mountain drive northwest of Tabuk, or saddle up an Arabian camel for a winter weather experience you won’t forget. Then, choose from various other seasonal activities, including hiking, camping, and sledding.”. So, it`s clear it`s a periodic and recurring incident in these Northern mountains of Saudi like those in the Tabuk region. More details about this can be taken from here. Archived

Arab News also reported on this in 2022,and they highlighted the comments of the dwellers of the Tabuk region, stating that snow falling is a seasonal or annual phenomenon.

“Residents have been heading for the northwest of the Kingdom to enjoy the sight of the latest snowfall. People in the Tabuk region near the Jordanian border woke up on New Year’s Day to find the desert sands covered in white snow. The Jabal Al-Lawz mountain range usually witnesses snowfall as the temperature drops, and winter is considered the most beautiful time of year in the region. Faris Al-Harbi, an engineer who used to live in Tabuk, told Arab News: “Every year, we wait for the snow to fall so that we can go to enjoy our aunt’s delicious kabsa (a traditional Saudi dish) cooked on the snow. It is one of our rituals.”The Arab News report can be reached here. Archived

Saudi Arabia is known for its desert climate. But temperatures vary from region to region due to its diverse landscape, including mountains, islands, deserts, caves, and valleys.

In Saudi Arabia, there are mainly five regions that face snow falling in winter. Those regions are Turaif, Tabuk, Arar, Shaqra, and Rafha. Details about this can be read here. Archived.

Snowing Possibility in Desert Countries

Snow forms when tiny ice crystals in clouds stick together to become snowflakes. If enough crystals stick together, they’ll become heavy enough to fall to the ground.

Snowflakes that descend through moist air slightly warmer than 0 °C will melt around the edges and stick together to produce big flakes. Conversely, snowflakes that fall through cold, dry air grow powdery snow that does not stick together.

Two distinctive weather properties are needed for snow to form: cold temperatures and moist air. The presence of snow reflects a unique combination of air circulation in the atmosphere and the nature of the land surface upon which the snow falls. In some desert countries, these requirements are fulfilled, and snowing happens.

Climate Change and Unpredictable Weather Patterns

Globally, however, climate change is leading to more unpredictable weather patterns. For example, we can take the Sahara Desert region, which is situated in Africa. This may mean increased rainfall variability in the Sahara along its wetter Sahelian fringe and the Atlantic and Mediterranean seaboard. Although snow patterns are still being determined, that is not the main challenge that the Sahara faces under climate change. Instead, it’s predicted that the landward side of the mountains will become drier, and the center of the Sahara will remain dry and even hotter. Increased dryness, unsustainable pumping, and pollution of groundwater aquifers mean less water is available for agriculture and growing cities. . Details about it can be taken here. Archived

Conclusion

According to our investigation, we were able to find out that snow falling is not a rare phenomenon in Saudi Arabia. It`s happening in around 5 Saudi regions in winter, and it`s an annual event. Even in 2022,2021, and previous years, this happened. However, the contribution of global climate change to snow falling in Saudi Arabia has yet to be analyzed.