Riyadh experiences sub-zero temperatures

With sub-zero temperatures and strong winds, northern parts of the Kingdom are experiencing snowfall in this file photo.

RIYADH: A cold snap gripped the capital on Friday as temperatures dropped to -1 degree Celsius, the lowest this season so far, as other parts of Saudi Arabia saw some snowfall.
Strong winds on Thursday night forced people to remain indoors or come out wearing warm clothes.
The General Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME) has forecast a cold spell with winds hitting 50 km per hour, low visibility due to dust, and partly cloudy skies in parts of the central, eastern and southwestern highlands on Saturday.
Visitors at the 31st Al-Janadriyah festival, which opened on Wednesday, said people were returning home early due to the cold weather, which follows a long spell of relatively warm weather.
Minimum temperatures are forecast to be 1 degree Celsius on Saturday, 5 degrees on Sunday and 7 degrees on Monday.
Civil and health authorities have urged Riyadh residents to follow preventive measures against cold and flu. Meanwhile, further snowfall is forecast in the north of the Kingdom, with sub-zero temperatures and strong winds.
According to weather experts, winter in the Kingdom depends on cold winds blowing from the Siberian mountains toward the Arabian Peninsula.