From the archives: A rare and historic third-degree depression affected the Kingdom at this time in 2020.

Arab Weather - Just five years ago, the Kingdom was experiencing stormy weather as a result of being affected by a rare and unusual low-pressure system classified as advanced, causing cold winter weather and heavy rains with heavy hail and strong winds. The low-pressure system caused a lot of damage, along with being unusual for this time of year.

Details of the historic low pressure system that affected the Kingdom on May 5-6, 2020.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, May 4-5, 2020, the Kingdom was affected by an unusual low-pressure system for this time of year, classified as a third-degree depression according to the Arab Weather classification for the severity of low-pressure systems.

The low pressure system was accompanied by a cold front, which caused a significant and rapid drop in temperatures and an increase in cloud cover at various altitudes. The weather was cold and mostly cloudy, with occasional heavy thunderstorms and hail.

The depression was also accompanied by active winds with strong gusts in desert areas, causing dust waves and sandstorms that limited horizontal visibility.

Damage caused by the depression of May 5-6, 2020 / the second week of Ramadan 2020 (video)

• Winds accompanying the depression caused damage to wind turbines for renewable energy in Shobak.
• Al-Hussainiya floods swept away vehicles and homes.
• The low pressure system was accompanied by heavy hail showers in several areas, causing damage to crops.
• Civil Defense rescued 8 people in Ma'an Governorate who were hit by floods.

Did this weather phenomenon occur before May 2020?

The formation of depressions and rainy conditions in May (especially the second half) is generally considered rare, but it has happened before. However, this year was marked by the cold air masses accompanying the depressions that occurred in May, both in the Levant region and elsewhere.

And God knows best.