A video circulating on social media captured a funnel tornado forming southeast of Taif in Mecca, coinciding with light to moderate rainfall. The official spokesperson for the National Center of Meteorology, Hussein Al-Qahtani, stated that "the center observed a noteworthy tornado in Taif for the second time this year; a scene reflecting the climatic changes occurring in some regions of the Kingdom. We urge everyone to contact the center at 1987 upon observing any unusual weather phenomena."
This tornado is a small funnel tornado, known as a tornado, which is a type of windstorm that can sometimes be violent. It is characterized by a cone-shaped cloud and a concentrated funnel of dust, rotating around an area of low atmospheric pressure with speeds not less than 40 miles (64 kilometers) extending from a severe thunderstorm to the ground. It is an unusual weather phenomenon in the Arabian Peninsula, and its impact varies based on wind speed in areas it passes through.
