Rains herald onset of winter in Riyadh and Madinah

Mercury levels have dropped in the capital city of Riyadh as well as the holy city of Madinah, bracing the cities for a cold winter.
Madinah had a brush with a brief downpour on Tuesday morning making the whole city drenched. It however remained covered with clouds throughout the day.
The Saudi capital too experienced light drizzle in the early hours of Tuesday morning with mostly cloudy skies, sending the minimum temperature down to 20 degrees Celsius against 24 degrees Celsius on Monday. The maximum temperature has also come down to 30 degrees Celsius.
Dropping temperatures have come as a relief to Riyadh’s residents, who are gearing up to welcome winter.
Mohammad Abdallah, who lives in Um Al-Hammam area of the city, said: “I am enjoying the weather. Hopefully, the scorching summer season is behind us now.”
Abdul Mutalib Mohammad, another citizen who lives in Wadi Laban, said: “The morning breeze has made all the difference, making our days more pleasant. The searing heat is no longer there to make life difficult.”
Ali Ahmad, an expatriate who is new in the Saudi capital, was very excited seeing cloudy skies in Riyadh. “I was completely taken up by surprise when I saw an overcast sky in the morning. I did not see this during the monsoon season, but now with the onset of winter, it’s a welcome change in weather.”
Abu Bakar Basheer, who lives in Wadi Hanifa, echoed similar sentiment over the arrival of cool weather. “The gentle breeze is tantalizing as the smell of food wafts around with the evening breeze now,” he said, adding: “it is not only the onset of winter but the onset of a happier season to be enjoyed through family outings.”
“The air this morning was fresh and I was excited by the sudden gusts of wind under a cloudy sky,” said Zain Jameel, who lives in the Malaz district of the capital.