TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Snow covered the mountains surrounded by desert in the northern region of Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and Thursday, December 18 and 19, 2025. The rare sight transformed the area into an enchanting winter wonderland.
Many people gathered to witness the snowfall in Al-Majmaah and Al-Ghat, areas in the north of Riyadh. Thamr Alotaibi, a resident of Riyadh, stated that this phenomenon had never occurred before, bringing joy to the local residents. "My friends and I will experience this winter miracle, which will be an extraordinary experience," he said, as reported by Arab News on December 18, 2025.
The National Center of Meteorology (NCM) predicted more snow in the northern parts of Riyadh, Al-Majmaah, and Al-Ghat. The snowfall on Thursday resulted in accumulation in the highlands and open areas.
Hussein Al-Qahtani, the official spokesperson of NCM, explained that the weather conditions affecting the northern region of Riyadh were due to the movement of cold air masses to that area, accompanied by rain clouds. This resulted in temperatures dropping below zero degrees Celsius in some locations, creating conditions for snowfall in the early hours.
The NCM issued an early warning regarding the weather conditions and will continue to be monitored by a special team. Al-Qahtani estimated that the temperatures would remain low for several hours, with the possibility of freezing dew in some areas in the northern and central parts of the Kingdom.
While this rare phenomenon is fascinating for local residents, caution is advised, especially when driving on open roads due to the potential formation of ice. Residents are also urged to adhere to precautionary measures and avoid open areas during the peak cold period to ensure public safety.
Snow in Trojena
Snow also covered Trojena, a mountain destination for hiking and skiing located in Jebel Al-Lawz in Tabuk Province. The mountains, reaching elevations of up to 2,600 meters above sea level, appeared white after a drastic drop in air temperature.
Trojena, which is part of the NEOM city project, is planned to become an internationally acclaimed ski resort. However, the winter tourism destination, initially scheduled to open in 2026, faced geological and logistical challenges, resulting in the postponement of its operation.
As reported by Euro News, the high-altitude area experiences zero degrees Celsius temperatures every winter. However, to create snow to support tourism, they will use modern technology claimed to be environmentally friendly.
Read: How Snow Forms on Saudi Arabia's Jabal Al Lawz
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