Severe Weather Risk Eyes Saudi Arabia, Iraq Through Tuesday

By Eric Leister, Meteorologist

November 16,2015; 11:30PM,EST

 

 

The risk for severe weather will dip unusually far south into the Middle East early this week.
Residents across northern Saudi Arabia and southwestern Iraq should remain on alert for potentially violent thunderstorms.
The danger will shift northwest to southeast across the risk zone into Tuesday. Hail and Medina, Saudi Arabia, and Najaf, Iraq, are among the cities at risk for violent thunderstorms.
Areas from Tabuk and Sakaka to Baghdad could still experience a shower or thunderstorm, though the worst weather will be farther south and east.

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"Damaging wind and flooding rain will be the main threats from any severe thunderstorm," stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Rob Richards. Hail cannot be ruled out. Gusty wind from thunderstorms can also produce blinding sand and dust storms.
A second threat area will be across Israel, Lebanon, southern Syria and western Jordan. These areas will be at risk for showers and thunderstorms with strong winds, hail and downpours.
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Saudi Arabia Weather Center
Iraq Weather Center
Jordan Weather Center
Richards added that the impending severe weather danger in this part of the Middle East is rather unusual and will be triggered by a storm system that is diving farther south than normal.
"Typically, [the areas at risk] are dry most of the time and at most, any severe thunderstorm is spotty," he said. "However, we could see a squall line [of damaging thunderstorms] bringing more widespread impacts."

Periods of rain will develop north of the severe weather from Baghdad to Tehran and will persist into midweek.
"Localized flooding may occur, especially in and around the mountainous terrain," Richards said.
Content contributed by Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski.