Saudi Capital Hit With Rare, Deadly Floods

By: By Sean Breslin

Published: November 18,2013

 

 

 

 

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A Saudi labourer tries to clear a flooded street in northern Riyadh, on November 17, 2013, after heavy rains fell overnight in the Saudi capital. (FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images)

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Four people were killed and several others were reported missing when rare floods hit the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh over the weekend.
(MORE: Devastating Images of Tornado Aftermath in the Midwest)
The bodies of three family members and a female expatriate have been recovered in flood waters since the rains began, reports the Saudi Gazette. In all, nearly 100 people had to be rescued from flooding, the report states. Schools were closed in the area, and power was  knocked out to some homes in the northern part of the city.
"Riyadh reported 20 mm (0.79 inch) of rain in a 12-hour period, double their average rainfall for the month of November," said weather.com meteorologist Nick Wiltgen. "Typically, desert cities do not invest the same resources in drainage as do cities in wetter climates – much as warm-weather cities do not invest much in snowplows or road salt. As a result, rainfall amounts that might seem numerically insignificant in a place like Miami or New York can lead to major impacts in a desert metropolis."
Riyadh, which is unable to handle large amounts of rainfall and averages less than an inch per November, received about two hours of downpours on Saturday, according to a Business Insider report.
RT.com says the deadly flooding event is already being called the worst in 30 years for the city that has no way to combat heavy rainfall.

Rainfall averages for riyadh, saudi arabia

Average precipitation, in millimeters

Days with precipitation per month

Source: WorldWeatherOnline.com