The Ministry of Education announced that Saudi schools would be closed on Wednesday. The International Indian School of Jeddah has also announced it would be closed on Wednesday. King Abdulaziz University let students out early on Tuesday and said it would be closed on Wednesday.

No rain-related deaths or accidents were reported, but the Civil Defense has warned people to stay away from wadis for 48 hours following the precipitation. Wadis, the natural flood paths of rainwater, can fill up quickly and wash people and cars away in a matter of minutes. The danger exists even if there is no precipitation in the immediate vicinity, as wadis carry flood waters from higher altitudes kilometers away to deposit water in the sea.

Tuesday’s rainfall was light, lasting only a few minutes in some parts of the city, but in January this year and November 2009, the city was struck by fatal and property-destroying heavy flash floods that local residents have not forgotten. In January, some schools were so flooded that students could not get home for over 48 hours.

The spokesman of the Presidency for Meteorology and Environment, Husain Al-Qahtani, told Arab News that the necessary procedures have been taken for safety.

“We are witnessing a change in weather from winter to spring and such changes are expected,” he said. “There is also a warm front coming from the south that will affect Makkah province and the central region of the Kingdom.”

Rain is in the forecast for Friday.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation said in a statement that Tuesday’s sandstorm did not affect air traffic at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport. Jeddah and suburban areas of Bahra and Jamoom, meanwhile, received heavy rainfall.

Brig. Abdullah Jeddawi, the director of the Civil Defense in Jeddah, said his department had mobilized 2,000 men to deal with rains and possible flooding.  “They will be supported by additional forces from the border guards and the National Guard tonight. We have also taken the assistance of 60 divers if required,” he said.

Rumors were also abound that schools in Jeddah had been ordered shut due to a “nuclear” cloud heading toward Jeddah from Japan.

“I got a call from a friend telling me at 9:30 a.m. to go pick my children up from school because of a nuclear cloud. I laughed at it first and then rang the school only to be told that the school was closing because  of expected rains,” a Western expat told Arab News.