1967tazz

My new school in Jeddah has closed today until Saturday at the earliest, due to 'dangerous' rains - how bad is the weather in Jeddah KSA at the moment? Thanks.

weasel central

It seems to be raining in a dangerous fashion at the moment.

Last year they had some serious floods that happened very quickly with a lot of roads undermined, there is no real storm water system in jeddah. This might be what they are afraid of/ or expecting.

nottmbantam

The bad floods occurred in Nov 2009 and ever since then, when heavy rain is forecast, the residents get a bit jittery.

Since then, there was a huge investigation as to why the drainage system was not adequate and it transpired the the previous minister has absconded with billions of riyals intended to build the much needed system.

It calmed down a bit, but in late Jan this year, there was even worse flooding than in 2009, and so again, when heavy rain is forecast, they either let people leave work / school early, or in this case, shut down altogether.

Search on You Tube for Jeddah Floods Nov 2009 or Jan 2011 and you'll see how bad they were. All caused by a few hours of heavy rain.

flares

just got a note from the Brit Embassy...about the bloody weather in Jeddah

thought it was going to be about Bahrain

Meow

Good to see they are focusing on the major issues...

nottmbantam

It IS a major issue FFS. Lives, households , businesses at stake? How can it not be serious?

Meow

There are rather bigger issues in the region than heavy rainful that causes a problem for a day or two.

lionheart

Maybe it's a subtle way at hinting to the Saudi Royal Family that, if they were to spend a little less money on luxuries and a little more on the country's awful infrastructure, the common people might not have a need to complain.

flares

They got the message after '09. These things take a little time to work through though. I've seen plans for new corniche and tahlia/flood canal/falasteen st work. A megabucks granite-fest. Slightly over budget i would assume.

nottmbantam

The floods in Nov 2009 killed more than a 100 people. Small numbers compared to Japan recently, but for that number of people to die as result of flooding, is something I'd call that serious.

We'll have to agree to differ.

Audisavant

About 20 years ago I was in Kuwait City. In February there are frequent rain storms and remarkably, despite an extensive network of storm drains the streets often flooded.
The government anounced in the Arab Times,
"Foreign Terrorists Sabotage Kuwaiti Drainage System".
Nothing to do with the fact that they hadn't bothered to clean them of the tons of blown sand that filled them up during the summer.
If in doubt blame foreign saboteurs.
Far easier than preventative maintenance.