Three children from the village of Baida Natheel in Hail died on Monday after drowning in a deep pond created by flash floods following heavy rains that hit the region over the past two days.

The Civil Defense Department took out the bodies of the children, the eldest of whom was 12. The department has received 984 calls to report rain-related accidents.

The Education Department in Hail suspended schools in the region on Tuesday to ensure children’s safety. Moderate rains poured over Riyadh on Tuesday afternoon as the mercury dipped after rising for more than a week, marking the onset of the summer season.

The city skyline had been overcast since Monday evening.

Moderate rains on Tuesday also caused traffic congestion on the city’s busy roads. Traffic on the busy Khurais road, for example, came to a halt.

The Met Office has forecasted partly cloudy skies on Wednesday. More drizzle is expected, along with scattered clouds.