How Snow Forms on Saudi Arabia's Jabal Al Lawz

December 20, 2025 | 11:41 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A rare event occurred in the region of Saudi Arabia on Thursday, December 18, 2025. The region, mostly known for its barren desert, suddenly found itself covered by a layer of snow that fell in the Jabal Al Lawz Mountains. This phenomenon surprised the residents and became a topic of discussion on social media.

Citing the Khaleej Times, Jabal Al Lawz, with an elevation of 2,580 meters above sea level, is one of the highest points in Saudi Arabia. This elevation makes it vulnerable to extreme temperatures that can plummet below zero degrees Celsius when winter arrives.

A series of low-pressure systems in the Middle East has brought heavy rainfall over the past week. This cold air mass moved southward through the Levant region, finally reaching the northern part of Saudi Arabia. The meeting of the air mass and freezing temperatures at this elevation ultimately resulted in the formation of ice crystals.

This rare sight triggered mass euphoria, as evident on various social media platforms. Circulating videos showed residents setting up tents, brewing hot coffee in the snow, and dancing, singing, and praising. The residents were clearly enjoying this phenomenon.

However, the beauty of this natural phenomenon also comes with safety risks. The governments of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and other Gulf countries have issued warnings urging residents to exercise caution when engaging in activities in snowy areas. The local authorities have asked residents to be prepared for potential disasters that could occur during this extreme weather.

As reported by the Saudi Gazette, the snowfall is the first of the year in the highlands of Trojena and parts of the Tabuk region in northern Saudi Arabia. The National Center of Meteorology (NCM) in its weather report indicated the potential for similar events due to light snowfall and the formation of frost in some highland areas of Tabuk and Hail, as well as in the northeastern parts of the Madinah highlands.

The report also indicated partly cloudy to cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms and rain in the western and southwestern parts of the kingdom. Meanwhile, moderate-intensity rainfall is expected in parts of Tabuk, Al-Jouf, Hail, and Qassim, with the possibility of fog formation in some of these areas.

Local weather forecasts also predict the potential occurrence of moderate to heavy thunderstorms causing flash floods, accompanied by hail and strong winds in some areas of Riyadh, the Eastern Province, and the Northern Borders.

Previously, in November 2024, the Al-Jawf region in Saudi Arabia, which is a barren desert, was blanketed in snow for the first time. At that time, the National Center of Meteorology (NCM) of the UAE linked it to a low-pressure system originating from the Arabian Sea and extending to Oman.

Snow also often falls in the northern mountainous regions of Turaif, Arar, and Rafha.

Sita Planasari contributed to this article

Read: First 2025 Snowfall Blankets Saudi Arabia's Jabal Al Lawz

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News

First 2025 Snowfall Blankets Saudi Arabia's Jabal Al Lawz

1 hari lalu

MBS Calls Prabowo on Sumatra Disaster, Hajj Village

8 hari lalu

What Trump Likes So Much About Middle East Authoritarians

9 hari lalu

Israeli Army Chief Declares 'Yellow Line' as Gaza's 'New Border'

11 hari lalu

Saudi Airline Mukhtara Air to Launch in Indonesia in 2026, Targeting Hajj and Umrah Travel

18 hari lalu

Saudi Crown Prince Extends Condolences to Indonesia Over Sumatra Floods

18 hari lalu

Saudi Crown Prince Turns Down Trump's Push to Normalize Ties with Israel

23 hari lalu

Fun Facts About Saudi Tourists' Favorite Spots in Indonesia

26 hari lalu

Cristiano Ronaldo Attends White House Dinner with Trump and Saudi Crown Prince

29 hari lalu

Danantara Bids on 80 Ha Site in Saudi Arabia for Indonesia's Hajj Village

30 hari lalu