Are the holy sites experiencing exceptional weather conditions during the current Hajj season?

Arab Weather - The Makkah region and the holy sites witnessed exceptional weather conditions during the Hajj seasons in previous years, sometimes accompanied by heavy rainfall, clear activity of lightning, thunder and thunder, in addition to very high-speed downdrafts. Will such weather phenomena be repeated this year in Makkah and the holy sites?

Is Mecca experiencing exceptional rainfall during the current Hajj season?

According to the forecasts of the National Center for Meteorology, hot to very hot weather is expected to prevail in the holy sites in general, especially during the afternoon and evening periods.

As for the chances of rain, it is likely that cumulonimbus clouds will form over the Taif highlands starting from the day of Arafah, with the possibility of their effects extending to parts of the holy sites. On the other hand, the forecasts do not indicate so far any signs of exceptional weather disturbances in the region.

Extreme weather conditions in previous Hajj seasons

Hajj season 1430 AH – 2009 AD | Thunderstorms hit Arafat and strong floods struck Jeddah

The Day of Arafah during the Hajj season of 1430 AH witnessed an exceptional weather condition, as the Arafat and Muzdalifah regions were affected by strong thunderstorms and heavy rainfall. This condition coincided with the famous flood disaster that struck the city of Jeddah on the same day, which led to significant losses in lives and infrastructure.

1434 AH – 2013 AD | Rain and wind in Dhu al-Hijjah

On the fifth of Dhu al-Hijjah, Makkah and the holy sites were affected by unstable weather conditions, including thunderstorms and active winds, which resulted in minor injuries among some pilgrims, and required the intervention of civil defense teams to pump and drain the water that had accumulated in a number of locations.

1439 AH – 2018 AD | Rain on the Day of Tarwiyah: Heavy thunderstorms

As the pilgrims began moving to Arafat on the 7th and 8th of Dhul-Hijjah, the atmosphere witnessed heavy thunderstorms that directly affected the movement and organization in the holy sites, and added an exceptional character to those blessed days.

1440 AH – 2019 AD | Rain in Mina during the stoning of the Jamarat

On the first day of Tashreeq (11th of Dhul-Hijjah), while pilgrims were flocking to Mina to throw the pebbles, heavy rains suddenly fell, forming one of the moving moments that were documented by the pilgrims’ cameras.

1445 AH – 2024 AD | Rain surprises pilgrims at the Grand Mosque after a very hot day

During the last Hajj season, specifically on the 11th of Dhul-Hijjah, heavy and sudden rain fell on the pilgrims in Mina, helping to alleviate a heat wave that had exceeded 49 degrees Celsius. Moving scenes were recorded of pilgrims cheering and chanting with joy at the rain, in a rare and exceptional sight.

Why do severe weather events frequently occur in Mecca and the holy sites? Here are the scientific reasons:

Strong weather conditions are frequent in Mecca and the holy sites as a result of large temperature differences between the hot ground surface and the cold upper layers of the atmosphere, which leads to a state of atmospheric instability that creates conditions for the growth of cumulonimbus clouds and thunderstorms. With the activity of southwesterly or westerly winds, large amounts of moisture flow from the Red Sea, increasing the chances of rainfall. Sometimes, due to the extreme heat and topography, strong local clouds are created suddenly even without clear weather systems.