Freezing temperatures together with snow and winds are likely to hit the north and northwest areas of Saudi Arabia today (January 7) in a surge of cold weather which could last until Sunday, a report said.

Storms coming from Europe and America are the likely cause of the cold wave, according to the report in Arab News, which cited the Presidency of Meteorology and Environmental Protection (PME).

The severe weather conditions are expected to move across the kingdom, the PME report said.

“The northern areas would be struck first, including Tabuk, Turaif and Al-Jouf, where sub-zero temperatures and light snow is expected,” Hussain Al-Qahtani, spokesperson of the PME, was quoted as saying by Arab News.

The PME added that visibility could be limited due to winds.

Madinah, Jeddah and Makkah are expected to see a dropping temperatures as well as strong winds, and the cold wave would peak on Thursday in the Eastern Province and Riyadh, the report said.

The storm would reach Saudi Arabia’s southern areas on Friday, Al-Qahtani was quoted as saying.