The Norwegian Observatory has forecast rains next week in Jeddah. But the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment insists the prediction may not be correct. According to the forecast, cold wave will sweep some parts of the Kingdom with the formation of cumulus. The cold wave would start Saturday and continues through the week, the Norwegian Observatory said. Hussein Al-Qahtani, PME spokesman, said the Presidency seeks to provide accurate information about the weather within 48 to 72 hours because the PME devices make the forecast once clouds form over the Kingdom. Foreign observatories, he added, give prediction based on clouds that might not have any rain. “We care to provide accurate forecasts because many government agencies make their decisions based on over predictions,” Al-Qahtani said. He also said there are indications of rainfall in eastern Makkah region within the next 48 hours. “This is the time of rain and this period will continue until mid-April. I expect rainfall in south-west Najran as well as Taif, Central Region and Western Region,” he said. The PME changed its online mechanism related to weather prediction and now gives only prediction for two days instead of five days as was done earlier. The dusty winds blowing across the Kingdom eased Wednesday putting things back to normal. The sandstorms which battered the country for four days disrupted flights, government services, educational institutions and caused respiratory ailments among residents and citizens. __
