Snowfall in parts of Saudi Arabia has stunned residents and social media users alike, with videos of white-covered mountains prompting many online to question whether the visuals were real or generated using artificial intelligence. The rare weather event transformed typically arid landscapes into scenes more commonly associated with colder regions. 

According to the Saudi Gazette, snow blanketed the Trojena Highlands and parts of the Tabuk region, dramatically altering the rugged, desert-framed terrain. Jabal Al-Lawz in Tabuk witnessed heavy snowfall on Wednesday, accompanied by dense fog and strong winds. Temperatures in the area reportedly dropped sharply, reaching as low as minus 4 degrees Celsius.

The Trojena highlands also experienced snowfall alongside light to moderate rainfall. Rain was reported in several centres, including Bi’r bin Hirmas, Al-Uyaynah, Halat Ammar and Shigry, as well as nearby areas.

Videos Go Viral, Internet Expresses Disbelief

Clips shared on social media showed snow settling on rocky slopes, vehicles navigating icy roads and residents stopping to record the unusual spectacle. Many users expressed disbelief, with comments questioning whether the footage was real. “Is this AI?” became a recurring refrain as the visuals spread rapidly online.

Despite the surprise, Saudi Arabia is not entirely unfamiliar with snowfall. The country’s diverse geography includes elevated regions that can experience winter snow, though such events remain rare.

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Weather Alerts Issued Across Regions

According to Gulf News, regions including Qassim, Tabuk, Hail and parts of northern Riyadh could see snowfall this week. The National Center of Meteorology (NCM) issued weather alerts warning of unstable conditions, including hail, strong winds and flash flooding.

The NCM said its Wednesday forecast indicated the possibility of light snowfall and frost in parts of the Tabuk and Hail highlands, as well as northeastern areas of the Madinah highlands. Partly cloudy to overcast skies with scattered rain and thunderstorms were also predicted across western and southwestern regions.

Risk Of Thunderstorms, Flooding And Fog

The weather authority warned of moderate to heavy thunderstorms that could trigger flash floods, along with hail and strong winds, in regions such as Riyadh, the Eastern Province and the Northern Borders. Moderate rainfall and fog were expected in Tabuk, Al-Jouf, Hail and Qassim. 

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