The rain clouds stretched from the central region out over the Gulf, and temperatures throughout the area stayed between 19 and 21 degrees Celsius. The rain generally was light with the exception of some thunderstorms that rumbled through Wednesday and Thursday, but it did not seem to dampen the enthusiasm of area residents.
“This is beautiful,” said Abu Obaid, whose family was busy barbecuing on the Alkhobar Corniche making the most of his children’s spring break. “Today is the last day because tomorrow schools will reopen,” he said.
Abu Obaid’s son said their extended family traveled from Riyadh for the school holidays and was happy to endure a few cloudbursts over the weekend.
“We had a great time in the Eastern Province. We visited the flower show, King Abdullah Park, and we went speed-boating at Half Moon Beach,” he said. “We spent our nights there pitching our tents. We carried gas cylinders and stoves, every possible thing. The kids had a great time frolicking in the cool sea waters.”
He said the area’s cool, green spring reminded him of more northern climes.
“It looked like Europe,” he said. “Then we had rains, and the whole thing took a bright hue; everything looked washed, clean and green. The children delighted in the rainfall.”
A bedouin speaking from Ain Dar reported that all the way down to Al-Hasa the desert had gotten a nice watering, which will make the desert bloom over the next few weeks.
“The camels will be very happy,” he said.
Don’t invest too much in rain gear as meteorologists predict the unusual weather — about five degrees below normal for this time of year — will soon come to an end.
“The weather has been very pleasant, but now we are at the end of the spring season. Temperatures are going to go up sharply,” said one weather official. “This year we expect the temperatures to shoot up to 49 degrees Celsius as we head into May.”
