Saudi Arabia, known for its sweeping deserts and intensely hot climate, has recently experienced an unusually cold winter period marked by historic low temperatures and rare snowfall across northern regions.
The National Center of Meteorology (NCM) released a review of winter temperature records spanning 1985–2025, revealing that the lowest winter temperature ever recorded in the Kingdom reached minus 10 °C (14 °F) in Hail on January 16, 2008. Qurayyat in the Al‑Jouf region followed with a historic low of –9 °C, while Turaif in the Northern Borders registered –8 °C on multiple occasions. Other cities such as Tabuk have also seen temperatures plunge below freezing during past cold spells.
In the current season, a powerful cold air mass moving into the country has brought a stark contrast to typical winter weather in the region. Northern provinces, including Tabuk and Hail, witnessed rare snowfall, transforming parts of the landscape into scenes more reminiscent of winter climates elsewhere. Snow has been confirmed on the highlands of Jabal Al‑Lawz and surrounding areas, with footage showing white‑covered desert plains and mountain slopes drawing global attention.
Residents in these areas have embraced the unusual conditions, with scenes of families enjoying the snow, some even skiing on gentle slopes — a sight seldom associated with the Arabian Peninsula. Local authorities and meteorologists had issued weather advisories ahead of the event, warning of sharp temperature drops, possible snowfall, hail, thunderstorms, and strong winds across several regions.
While snowfall in northern Saudi Arabia isn’t entirely unprecedented — it has occurred sporadically in elevated areas over past decades — widespread snow and sub‑freezing conditions across desert landscapes remain rare and noteworthy. Experts say such events depend on specific atmospheric conditions that allow cold air to interact with moisture at higher elevations.
The remarkable winter weather has sparked public excitement, with social media filled with images and videos of snow — a striking contrast to the Kingdom’s usual sandy vistas. Authorities continue to monitor weather patterns closely and advise the public to heed safety guidelines during extreme conditions.