In brief
On Sunday, November 1 2026, Saudi Arabia is set to experience widespread thunderstorms, hail, and gusty, dust‑laden winds, according to the National Center for Meteorology. Fog could form in some regions, and coastal seas will hold waves reaching up to two meters. Forecasts highlight varying wind speeds across the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf, though conditions may shift during the day.
Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Meteorology announced that on November 1 2026 the kingdom will experience thunderstorms with rain, cold gusts and fog in regions such as Jazan, Asir, Al‑Baha, Mecca, Medina, Hail, and the Northern Border. Coastal areas along the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf will see winds from the east and southeast, with wave heights up to two meters.
The forecast, released as part of the national weather briefing, also says that thundershowers accompanied by hail are expected across much of the country, with gusty, dust‑stirring winds over Riyadh and Qassim. The team notes that the cold air will bring gusts ranging from 12 to 35 km/h over the Red Sea and 10 to 50 km/h over the Gulf.
Fog is likely to form over parts of the regions mentioned, although the meteorologist team specifies it may only settle in localized pockets. The report uses the phrasing “chance of fog” in Arabic and “may form” in the English release, indicating that the presence of fog remains probable but not certain.
Ground‑level wind speeds vary by latitude: the northern part of the Red Sea will have north‑westerly to northerly breezes at 12—35 km/h; the central portion will feel north‑westerly to westerly gusts of 12—32 km/h; the southern zone will experience southerly easterly to southwest winds at 12—32 km/h. These surface winds can create dust clouds in localized areas, especially over Riyadh and the Qassim provinces.
Sea State Across the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf
Along the Red Sea, waves will range from half a meter to one and a half meters, described as “calm to choppy.” The Arabian Gulf will have slightly higher swell: waves may reach over two meters in the northern part and half a meter to up to two meters in the southern sector. While the sea will largely be calm, the Gulf’s eastern winds can reach speeds up to 50 km/h and will drive moderate seas in the northern stretch of the gulf.
Both coastal forecasts note that wind directions will shift from north‑westerly to north‑westerly and westward between the outer and inner bays of the Red Sea, while the Gulf will be dominated by easterly or northeasterly breezes. Sea state changes are pronounced for near‑shore operations, especially for the shipping lanes that cross the gulf and the Red Sea’s strategic chokepoints.
In summary, the National Center for Meteorology catalogues a day of substantial meteorological activity: rain, hail, cold gusts, and dust‑laden winds in most of the kingdom’s southern and central provinces, possible fog pockets across a wide area, and ocean conditions that can rise to up to two meters with significant gusts at the coastlines. The forecast highlights that several key weather variables—including fog occurrence, hail intensity, and wind speed—may vary through the day and carry contingent confidence margins as noted by the reporting agency.
Ultimately, the only uncertainties listed in the report are the potential for fog in specific locales, the likelihood and intensity of hail, the exact wind speed in each zone, and the subtle shifts in wave height that can occur by the evening. No alternate timeline or speculative outcome beyond the central forecast was mentioned in the sources provided.
