Saudi Arabia Desert Blanketed in Rare Winter Snow

Saudi Arabia Desert Blanketed in Rare Winter Snow

Why in News? 

Recently, a rare and heavy snowfall transformed parts of Saudi Arabia into a shimmering white winter landscape. This extraordinary phenomenon has not been witnessed in three decades.

Highlights of the Recent Rare Snowfall Event in Saudi Arabia’s Desert

• On December 18, 2025, parts of northern Saudi Arabia experienced an extraordinary weather event when snowfall blanketed desert areas that normally remain dry and warm throughout the year. 
• This event was reported in several regions including Tabuk, Hail, and other northern desert plains, drawing global attention due to its rarity.
• Snow also fell along regions near the Saudi-UAE border, where footage showed vehicles driving through snowy terrain that usually sees high temperatures even in winter. 
• The most notable snowfall happened in the Tabuk region, especially around Jabal Al-Lawz, a mountain over 2,580 meters above sea level. Snowfall here was significant enough that locals described the scene as resembling alpine terrain more than a desert.
• The Hail region also saw rare snow accumulation. Recent reports indicate that Hail had not seen such snow in nearly 80 years, making this occurrence historically unusual for the area. 
• Other zones included Al-Ghat north of Riyadh, Qassim, and wider parts of the northern plateau. These areas experienced light to moderate snowfall or icy conditions during the same system. 
• Meteorologists reported that this cold front caused temperatures to drop as low as -4 degrees Celsius in highland areas.

Meteorological Factors Behind the Rare Desert Snowfall

• Cold Air Mass Movement: A key reason for the snowfall in northern Saudi Arabia was the movement of a Siberian cold winds into the region. This cold air came from northern latitudes and pushed temperatures down far below normal winter levels. This drastic drop in temperature created the conditions necessary for snow to form where snow is usually rare.

• • Atmospheric Moisture: In December 2025, moisture was carried into the Arabian Peninsula by wind patterns associated with the low-pressure system. These winds brought cloud formations and precipitation potential into northern Saudi Arabia. When temperatures were cold enough at elevation, this moisture condensed and froze into snow rather than rain.

• Low-Pressure System: Another important meteorological factor was a deep low-pressure system extending across the Middle East during mid-December 2025. This low-pressure zone drew in moist air and combined it with the cold air mass. When cold air meets moisture at certain altitudes, snowfall or icy precipitation can occur instead of just rain.

Historical Occurrences of Snowfall in the Arabian Peninsula

• 1943: The earliest documented snowfall in northern Saudi Arabia took place in 1943, when reports from the Tabuk area recorded snow accumulation that reached close to one metre in height on the ground. This rare event was unusual due to the typically arid desert climate of the Arabian Peninsula.

• • 1965: In 1965, another major snowfall occurred in parts of northern and central Saudi Arabia. The snowfall lasted for seven consecutive days in some areas, particularly in the Al-Uqlan district, and was accompanied by heavy rains and bitter cold conditions.
  • 1992: On November 14, 1992, snowfall struck a stretch of the road between Tabuk and Haql. Snow accumulated along this corridor, creating a white landscape over a long distance that locals described as unprecedented. This event is remembered for its unusual extent.

• 2016-20: A notable snowstorm in November 2016 brought light layering of snow to northern and central Saudi landscapes, with temperatures dipping below freezing for the first late-season storm in that period. Snow has also fallen on the Jebel Jais mountain in the United Arab Emirates multiple times in the early 21st century, including reported snow in 2009, 2017, and 2020.

Climatic Significance 

• Indicator of Rising Climate Variability: The rare snowfall over desert regions highlights the growing climate variability seen across the world. Climate science confirms that global warming does not only mean higher temperatures. It also increases weather extremes. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report released in 2023, warming alters atmospheric circulation patterns. These changes increase the frequency of unusual cold spells in specific regions. 
• Warming Arctic and Weakening Jet Stream: One important climate link involves the Arctic warming at nearly four times the global average, as confirmed by climate assessments in 2022 and 2024. This rapid Arctic warming weakens the polar jet stream, which normally confines cold air to higher latitudes. A weaker jet stream becomes wavier. These waves allow cold Arctic air to dip into lower latitudes such as West Asia.
• Increased Atmospheric Moisture: A warmer atmosphere holds more water vapour, roughly 7 percent more moisture for every 1 degree Celsius of warming, as established by long-term climate physics research. Global average temperature has already risen by about 1.2 degrees Celsius since the late nineteenth century. This increased moisture allows stronger precipitation events. In cold conditions, this moisture falls as snow instead of rain. 
• Shift in Regional Climate Patterns: Climate data from the Middle East show a rise in extreme weather events since the early 2000s. These include intense rainfall, heatwaves, and cold anomalies. Snowfall events fit within this shifting pattern. Regional climate models published after 2020 project greater instability rather than uniform warming. Such contrasts reflect a climate under stress.