Heavy rains expected in many cities next week

Heavy rain will fall across the eastern, central and western parts of the country that may continue for a week starting this Saturday, according to the online site Arabiaweather.
“Thunderclouds will form in Hafr Batin, Dammam, Riyadh, Majamaa, Al-Laith, Makkah and Madinah from Saturday and will last until the weekend,” the website said. The changes in weather would also affect Jeddah, it said.
Eastern Province Gov. Prince Saud bin Naif has ordered the Civil Defense and other government departments to take precautionary measures.
The downpours would start on either Saturday or Sunday night and would gather momentum during the day in Riyadh, particularly in the eastern part of the province. It will be accompanied by wind and increased humidity, the website stated.
Meanwhile, Maj. Nafie Al-Harbi, spokesman of the Civil Defense in Hail, warned that the heavy rains in the south of Hail city would flood the Al-Adeerae valley and nearby villages. He urged people not to visit or cross these valleys.
Al-Faikha village in Hail province was struck Sunday by raging floodwater following torrential rain in the hills nearby. Frightened residents made emergency calls to security officials and relatives in Hail for rescue.
The village, 70 km west of Hail, was engulfed but no loss of lives was reported. A Civil Defense official confirmed that the situation in the village, which has a population of 300, was under control. “The village is safe,” said Al-Harbi on Tuesday.
Security forces rescued three university students trapped in the floodwaters in Mehar valley close to Hail University.
People in low-lying areas were moved to safe buildings in elevated areas. There were many cases of electricity outages, the spokesman said.
Civil Defense officers are monitoring the situation and offering assistance to the flood victims. The power supply was restored, he added.
According to local residents, the villagers had to seek shelter on the roofs of houses, mosques and mountain tops during the flood. The villagers said it was the first time in 40 years that they had seen such a flood.