Overview
- Saudi Arabia’s National Centre for Meteorology confirmed snowfall and settling snow in Al‑Majmaah and Al‑Ghat north of Riyadh, alongside earlier falls in Tabuk and Hail.
- Authorities issued safety advisories and kept emergency alerts in place, and schools in Riyadh shifted to remote learning during the severe weather.
- Temperatures fell below freezing in several locations, with Jabal Al‑Lawz in Tabuk reported at around −4°C during the cold snap.
- Meteorologists described a deep low‑pressure system and a cold air mass pushing south as the drivers of the event, producing snow where surface temperatures dropped below 0°C.
- Forecasts from the NCM indicated continued low temperatures and a chance of additional snow in parts of Qassim and northern Riyadh around December 25, as viral images drew crowds to snow‑covered sites.