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RIYADH: Saudi authorities have forecast thunderstorms followed by moderate to heavy rainfall across the Kingdom, with the inclement weather expected to last until Monday.

The National Center for Meteorology has forecast moderate to heavy thunderstorms, leading to flash floods and accompanied by hail and dust-stirring winds in parts of the regions of Najran, Jazan, Asir, Al-Baha, Makkah, and Madinah.

Light to moderate rain is expected in parts of Eastern Province, Riyadh, Hail, and Qassim, with the chance of fog forming over the southwestern highlands in these areas.

The General Directorate of Civil Defense has issued inclement weather warnings along with safety instructions as the Kingdom braces for moderate to heavy rainfall.

It has called for caution as thunderstorms are expected to continue across most parts of the Kingdom until Monday.

The directorate advised the public to avoid valleys and flood-prone areas, and urged adherence to all official instructions and warnings broadcast through media and social media channels.

Wind speeds over the Red Sea will be northwesterly to northerly at speeds of up to 55 kph.

In the Arabian Gulf, winds will be southeasterly to northeasterly at speeds of up to 30 kph. The sea is expected to be relatively calm in that area, the NCM said.

RIYADH: Residents in ��������’s Northern Borders region witnessed a striking celestial event on Wednesday evening, as the crescent moon aligned closely with Spica, the brightest star in the Virgo constellation.

The conjunction was clearly visible to the naked eye, creating a vivid contrast against the night sky and drawing the attention of astronomy enthusiasts and casual observers, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

While such lunar alignments with zodiacal stars occur regularly, favorable weather conditions and clear skies contributed to the clarity and prominence of this event.

The Spica conjunction is just one of a series of notable astronomical phenomena observed across the Kingdom in recent days.

On Tuesday night, stargazers observed a triple alignment involving the crescent moon, Mars, and the star Chi Virginis.

In addition, observers reported the appearance of several large spots on the surface of the sun — an indication of heightened solar activity.

Astronomers note that these events not only offer visual displays but also contribute to ongoing research in space science, solar behavior, and atmospheric conditions.