Weather archive records reveal sudden weather fluctuations that have accompanied Hajj seasons over the years!

Arab Weather - Climate records and weather archive analyses indicate that the Makkah region and the holy sites were affected during several past Hajj seasons by exceptional weather conditions, sometimes accompanied by heavy rains and significant wind speeds, resulting in flash floods and increased levels of weather hazards. The most prominent of these seasons are as follows:

Hajj Season 1430 AH - 2009 AD | Arafat Storms and Disastrous Jeddah Floods

The Day of Arafah during the Hajj season of 1430 AH witnessed exceptional weather conditions, as the Arafat and Muzdalifah areas were hit by violent thunderstorms and heavy rainfall, unusual for this time of year. This condition coincided with the infamous flood disaster that struck the city of Jeddah on the same day, causing massive human and material losses, marking it as one of the worst natural disasters in the Kingdom's modern history.

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 torrential rain and strong winds. These conditions resulted in minor injuries among some pilgrims, necessitating the intervention of Civil Defense personnel to drain the water that had accumulated in some locations.

1439 AH - 2018 AD | The beginning of the Arafat scene... heavy thunderstorms

As pilgrims began their journey to Arafat on the 7th and 8th of Dhul-Hijjah, heavy thunderstorms hit the atmosphere, directly impacting movement and organization at the holy sites, adding an exceptional character to those blessed days.

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

On the second day of Tashreeq (11th of Dhul-Hijjah), while pilgrims were gathering to throw stones at the Jamarat in Mina, heavy rain suddenly fell, creating one of the most moving moments captured by the pilgrims’ lenses.

1445 AH - 2024 AD | Rain cools temperatures to 49 degrees Celsius

During the last Hajj season, specifically on the 11th of Dhu al-Hijjah, heavy and sudden rain fell on pilgrims in Mina, helping to break a heat wave that exceeded 49 degrees Celsius. Emotional scenes were captured of pilgrims cheering and chanting "Allahu Akbar" (God is Great) in joy at the rain, a rare and exceptional scene.

Why do severe weather conditions recur in Mecca and the holy sites? Here are the scientific reasons:

Severe weather conditions are common in Makkah and the holy sites due to large temperature differences between the hot surface of the earth and the cold upper layers of the atmosphere. This leads to atmospheric instability, which creates conditions for the growth of cumulus 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 intense heat and terrain, strong and sudden local clouds form, even without the presence of clear weather systems.