Unexpected surprise: Snow covered the streets of Riyadh!

Arab Weather - Sinan Khalaf - Imagine waking up on a winter morning in Riyadh, the Saudi capital known for its hot summers and dry desert climate, to find the ground covered in a white layer of snow. The unusual sight raises questions: Could this really happen? Has Riyadh ever experienced snowfall?

Is it possible for it to snow in Riyadh?

First, we must understand that Riyadh is located within a hot and dry desert climate most of the year, where hot air masses and low humidity prevail. However, the city may be hit by bitterly cold polar air masses coming from the north and northeast in the winter.

However, for snow to fall, the presence of cold weather alone is not sufficient. Sufficient moisture in the atmosphere and the presence of rising air currents are required to allow the formation of clouds carrying snow. Because these elements rarely combine in the skies over Riyadh, snowfall remains an exceptional and very rare event.

Documents and facts: Snow fell on Riyadh on January 3, 1973.

Although this event is rare, the city of Riyadh witnessed documented snowfall on January 3, 1973 AD (Rabi’ al-Thani 29, 1392 AH).
On that day, the snowfall accumulated in areas north and west of Riyadh, such as Diriyah, covering the ground in a 20-centimeter-thick layer of white snow that lasted for hours. This followed a days-long low-pressure system accompanied by a sharp drop in temperatures and unusually high humidity. The event was documented by Al-Jazirah newspaper at the time.

When looking at archival maps from that period, we see a very rare surge of a very cold, polar-originated air mass coming through central and eastern Russia towards Central Asian countries and Iran, descending deep into Saudi Arabia. This led to a sharp and unprecedented drop in temperatures in most of the Kingdom's cities.

What if it snows in Riyadh today?

If this phenomenon were to recur today, it would pose a major challenge to the city, as snowfall is expected to lead to:

• Traffic disruption due to ice and snow accumulations.
• Schools and government offices will be closed due to the exceptional weather and traffic disruption.
• Damage to crops that are not frost tolerant.
• Potential negative impacts on air traffic and the Riyadh Metro.
• Wide media interest and large public following.

In return, it will be a rare opportunity to experience new climates and better understand the effects of climate change on desert regions.

Does climate change affect the chances of snowfall?

As global climate change continues, we may witness an increase in extreme weather events. However, forecasts indicate that the region's climate is heading toward further warming, reducing the likelihood of future snowfall. But nature is never without surprises, and who knows? The future may hold white surprises in the heart of the desert!