RIYADH: Schools in Riyadh and Qassim will remain closed on Tuesday in view of heavy rain forecast by the Met department, Education Minister Azzam Al-Dakhil said in his Twitter account on Monday.

The two regions received heavy downpour on Monday evening, and the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME) said similar weather will prevail until Thursday.

In Buraidah, Qassim, traffic came to a standstill due to the heavy downpour. A Sri Lankan Embassy official, who was traveling to Riyadh from Hail via Buraidah, told Arab News that he was stuck in the city for a long time due to the traffic congestion.

“I saw several streets under water and the local authorities were pulling out vehicles that from flooded areas,” he said.

The PME said there will be heavy rain and thunderstorm in the coming days in areas including Al-Jouf, the northern border, Hail, Qassim, eastern part of Riyadh, Madinah and Makkah, extending to the highlands of Asir, Baha and Jazan. Severe sandstorms are predicted in the western part of the Kingdom.

Riyadh Civil Defense spokesman Maj. Mohammed Al-Hammadi said his department would coordinate with the consortium of companies involved in the Riyadh Metro Project in case of emergency due to the rain and floods. The Civil Defense is ready to undertake any rescue operations, he said.

“Hafr Al-Batin Municipality has mobilized all its staff during the heavy rain, which lashed the province over the past few days,” an official from the municipality said, adding that 10 emergency teams have been deployed.

Alkhobar Mayor Essam Al-Mulla held a meeting with Col. Nasser Al-Hamad Al-Ghanim, director of Civil Defense (Alkhobar), to discuss contingency plans during the anticipated showers.

In Baha, local authorities have made necessary arrangements to drain rainwater from the streets.

The Civil Defense in Riyadh has drawn up a plan to meet all eventualities in the event of flooding. A total of 180 teams comprising 720 officers have been deployed to attend to the emergency needs. The teams will be equipped with 330 pumps to remove water from flooded areas.

The plans are being prepared in coordination with Riyadh Municipality headed by Mayor Ibrahim bin Mohamed Al-Sultan.

This year, authorities will follow the SCADA electronic system to monitor rising water levels in reservoirs.

People have been advised to call the toll free number (940) in an emergency situation due to the rain.