FREAK WEATHER: Extreme deluge strikes Middle East – Mass flood SWEEPS desert

Freak weather has battered the Middle East in recent weeks, causing widespread flooding and storms across the Arabian peninsula. One of Saudi Arabia’s main airports – King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh – buckled under the weight of rain yesterday, as water flooded the building. The unprecedented scale of extreme weather has left thousands without power and has killed dozens from flooding. 

Flash floods in Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Iran have caused more than 30 deaths – prompting several state of emergencies announcements.

In Jordan, flash floods killed 11 people and forced the evacuation of nearly 4,000 tourists from the ancient city of Petra.

Two weeks ago, a powerful storm swept across a schoolbus full of children, sparking a national outcry.

In Kuwait, the army and national guard were mobilized and the country’s national guard also upgraded the weather conditions to “extreme”.

Metereologists have warned that the devastating weather looks set to continue into next week, as a cyclone moves across the region.

Footage posted online showed powerful torrents sweeping cars while sewage systems failed to drain the heavy downpour.

The same storm system is also responsible for thunderstorms across Israel, Lebanon and Syria this weekend.

AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Houk said: “Bursts of heavy rain are likely to slow transportation. Because the region is normally quite arid, there is the potential for road washouts and closures as well.”