Meteorology: Hail recorded 10 degrees below zero, the lowest temperature in the Kingdom in 40 years

Arab Weather - The National Center for Meteorology issued a recent statistical report reviewing the lowest minimum temperatures and frost cases recorded in the Kingdom’s regions during the winter seasons (December, January, February), based on approved climate records for the period from 1985 to 2025.

The report indicated that the lowest temperature recorded in the Kingdom during this period was 10 degrees Celsius below zero, and was recorded in the city of Hail on January 16, 2008. Al-Qurayyat came in second with a temperature of 9 degrees below zero during the same year, followed by Tarif with a temperature of 8 degrees below zero in different years, while Al-Jawf recorded about 7 degrees below zero during February of 1989.

The report added that a number of other cities recorded low temperatures, most notably: Arar (-6.3°C), Rafha (-5.8°C), Riyadh (-5.4°C), Buraidah (-5°C), Qassim (-4.2°C), Tabuk (-4°C), in addition to Al-Ahsa (-2.3°C), Wadi Al-Dawasir (-2°C), Taif (-1.5°C), and Bisha (-1°C).

The center noted that 2008 was one of the coldest years in terms of recording minimum temperatures in a number of regions of the Kingdom, as cities such as Hail, Riyadh, Buraidah, Qassim and Tabuk witnessed extreme temperature values compared to the rest of the years.

Regarding frost cases, the report indicated that the city of Tarif topped the list with 720 frost days during the studied period, followed by Al-Qurayyat (588 days), then Hail (339 days), Arar (277 days), Rafha (197 days), Sakaka (185 days), and Tabuk (139 days), while fewer frost cases were recorded in Buraidah (83 days), Al-Qaisumah (71 days), and Riyadh (46 days).

This report is part of the National Center for Meteorology's efforts to analyze and document long-term climate records, contributing to supporting scientific studies, raising awareness of the Kingdom's climate characteristics, and enhancing planning and preparedness based on accurate and reliable climate data.