The Saudi Ministry of Health has warned pilgrims about the dangers of exposure to high surface temperatures in the holy sites, which can reach 72°C in some mountainous areas. The Ministry of Health, in a statement published by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), alerted pilgrims that prolonged exposure to sunlight poses a significant health risk. It noted that this year’s Hajj season comes amid rising temperatures in Mecca, which is one of the biggest challenges faced by pilgrims.
The ministry urged pilgrims to consistently use umbrellas to avoid direct sunlight, to drink adequate amounts of water throughout the day, even if they do not feel thirsty, to adhere to all health instructions and advice, and to avoid going out and exposing themselves to sunlight or walking on surfaces or touching them during peak hours.
The National Center for Meteorology warned about the weather conditions in the Mecca region, especially in the Arafat area, which pilgrims will head to on Saturday for the performance of the major Hajj pillar. The center revealed that there is a significant rise in temperatures in Arafat today.
Arafat Weather Condition
The National Center for Meteorology issued a yellow warning in Arafat regarding rising temperatures to 47-48°C, starting before noon and continuing until 5 PM. It warned of a heat wave starting from 11 AM until 5 PM, with temperatures rising from 47°C to 48°C.
The center also warned of light rain in the Mecca region, including the holy capital, Arafat, Muzdalifah, and Mina, from 2 PM until 9 PM, accompanied by active winds, reduced visibility, and thunderstorm activity.
The National Center for Meteorology outlined the weather conditions in Mecca and the holy sites, reporting temperatures in Mecca at 43°C with a minimum of 31°C. In Mina, the maximum temperature is 43°C, with a minimum of 31°C; in Arafat, it is 44°C maximum and 30°C minimum, and in Muzdalifah, it is also 43°C maximum and 31°C minimum.
Current Weather Conditions
The Saudi National Center for Meteorology expects partly cloudy and clear weather in Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah. According to their website, the current temperature in Mecca is 36°C with winds from the southwest to west at a speed of 8 km/h, while in Medina, the temperature is 37°C with winds from northwest to southwest at 18 km/h, and in Jeddah, it’s 33°C with southwest to west winds at 10 km/h.
Will the Heat Affect the Performance of Hajj Rituals?
Despite the rising temperatures, the caravans of pilgrims began heading to Mina last night, Thursday, the eighth of Dhul-Hijjah, to spend the Day of Tarwiyyah, the first station of the Hajj rituals, using the approved crowd management plans with 12,000 buses transporting pilgrims through seven dedicated routes.
More than a million pilgrims gathered in Mecca on Friday, marking the beginning of the current season's rituals.
