Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Friday, Mar 29, 2024

NCM report: 2010 hottest and 2007 driest in three decades

NCM report: 2010 hottest and 2007 driest in three decades

The National Center of Meteorology (NCM) issued a summary report on the climate situation in the Kingdom for the year 2021. According to the report, 2010 was the hottest year while 2007 was the driest and 1997 was the wettest over a period of the past three decades from 1991 to 2020.
In his introduction to the report, CEO of NCM Dr. Ayman bin Salem Ghulam said that the center provides important climate information that helps academic and research stakeholders related to water, agriculture, energy and infrastructure sectors in their programs, plans and operational work related to sustainable development.

The analysis was based on the data of 26 inhabited meteorological stations belonging to NCM in 13 administrative regions of the Kingdom, including surface temperatures, rainfall, dusty phenomena, and drought conditions.

The report indicated that the average temperature in the Kingdom during 2021 increased by one degree Celsius above the normal rate in the past three decades from 1991-2020, making it the second warmest year in the Kingdom, while 2010 was the hottest year during the entire period. The annual report also registered two new records, which are the highest maximum temperatures for Riyadh stations compared to the reference period (1985 - 2020) and Dammam station compared to the reference period (2000 - 2020), which recorded 49.0 degrees Celsius on 12 July 2021 and 51.0 degrees Celsius on 13 August 2021 respectively.

The report recorded a change from the seasonal average temperature for the spring season (March to May 2021) with 26.6 degrees Celsius, an increase of 1.3 degrees Celsius above the normal rate, making it the warmest spring since 1985. This was due to the higher temperatures than the average during the month of March, which reached 2.7 degrees Celsius above the normal range in the regions of Hail and Al-Baha.

According to NCM, there was an increase in the number of warm days and a significant decrease in cold nights in 2021 compared to the normal rate in all parts of the Kingdom, as the report noted a gradual decrease in the number of cold nights since 1985.

With regard to rainfall, the year 2021 recorded less than the average, reaching 62.9 mm, as it is estimated at 71 percent of the average rainfall for the reference period (1991-2020), and the order of 2021 was the fifth driest year compared to the reference period, while 2007 was the driest in terms of annual precipitation and 1997 was the wettest year.

The report indicated that the rainfall in the winter and summer seasons was slightly higher than the average due to the high rainfall for the months of February and July, while the rainfall rate remained below the normal rate for the rest of the months. In July, Abha and Khamis Mushait stations recorded above-average quantities of 84.5 mm and 88 mm rain respectively.

According to the report, the number of days with an average rainfall of more than 95 percent and the intensity of rainfall in 2021 was close to normal. As for dusty phenomena, the activity of suspended dust and raised dust phenomena continued for 2021 below the normal level Kingdomwide, with the exception of the regions of Jazan and Makkah. Jazan was the most active city for dusty phenomena in 2021.

The report indicated that the year 2021 witnessed less activity of dust storms in the northern parts of the Kingdom, while the stations of Wadi Al-Dawasir and Najran in the south witnessed more dust storm activity. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) classified the year 2021 as a drought on a longer time scale with a moderate to severe degree in the eastern region extending up to the city of Riyadh.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Reports in Gaza: 5 dead from the impact of aid packages dropped by the USA
Apple warns against drying iPhones with rice
China Criticizes US for Vetoing UN Ceasefire Resolution in Gaza
In a recent High Court hearing, the U.S. argued that Julian Assange endangered lives by releasing classified information.
The U.S. vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, instead proposing its own six-week ceasefire plan contingent upon the release of all hostages held by Hamas
Prince William Urges End to Gaza Conflict
Saudi Arabia ranks first in UN index for e-government services in MENA
Israel has gone ‘beyond self-defence’ in Gaza, says Labour’s Streeting
EU Calls for Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza Conflict
Israel Records 20% Drop In GDP, War In Gaza Is The Reason
Saudi Arabia's FDI Inflows Grow with New International Standards
Venture Capitals Power Up Across MENA Region
Saudi Arabia Introduces Terms for 30-Year Income Tax Exemption for Multinational Companies
Saudi FM: Establishing Palestinian state is only pathway for Mideast stability
Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny has died at the Arctic prison colony
Elon Musk's Starlink Gets License For Israel, Parts Of Gaza
Influencers Exploit X Platform for Profit Amidst Israel-Gaza Conflict
PM Modi Announces Opening Of New CBSE Office In Dubai
International Criminal Court's Chief "Deeply Concerned" By Rafah Bombing
January Funding for MENA Startups Totals $86.5 Million
Saudi Arabia accelerates digital economy growth through Nvidia partnership
Indian female military officers commend Saudi Arabia's progress and women's empowerment
Israel unveils tunnels underneath Gaza City headquarters of UN agency for Palestinian refugees
Israel deploys new military AI in Gaza war
Egypt threatens to suspend key peace treaty if Israel pushes into Gaza border town, officials say
Israel Utilizes AI Military Technology in Gaza Conflict
Saudi Arabia Warns Of A "Humanitarian Catastrophe" If Israel Moves On Rafah
China Warns Iran to Halt Houthi Attacks or Damage Trade Ties
US University To Shut Qatar Campus Due To "Heightened Mideast Instability"
Iran-backed hackers interrupt UAE TV streaming services with deepfake news
Facebook and Instagram Ban Iran's Supreme Leader
Finnish Airline, Finnair, is voluntarily weighing passengers to better estimate flight cargo weight
U.S. Secretary of State Blinken: The Israelis underwent dehumanization on 7.10, this does not give them the right to do this to others.
Defense Technology Showcase Held in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports rise 2.5% to $6bn in November 2023: GASTAT
UK Bans Misleading "Zero Emissions" Claims for Electric Cars
Gaza's Teen Inventor Sparks Light in Displacement
Netanyahu Rejects Ceasefire Proposal, Insists On Total Victory Over Hamas
Guterres appoints independent UNRWA review panel
Private Sector Employment Hits Record High with Over 11 Million Employees in January
Rolls-Royce Executive Encourages Saudi Women to Tap into Their Inner 'Superhero' for Success in Defense Industry
Saudi Arabia launches National Academy of Vehicles and Cars
Saudi Tourism Minister Reveals Plan for 250,000 New Hotel Rooms by 2030
SAR to more than double eastern network passenger capacity with new trains deal
Saudi Arabia Enhances National Defense with New Partnerships
Saudi Aramco Maintains Arab Light Crude Pricing to Asia for March
NEOM Establishes New York Office to Support Investors
Saudi Wealth Fund Draws in Over $25 Billion Worth of Investments in Three Years, Al-Rumayyan Reveals
ZATCA Cautions Against Scammer Schemes
INTRA Defense Technologies inaugurates drone factory in Riyadh
×