Strong Winds and Rain Expected from the Eastern Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf Region

Affected by a cutoff low vortex (Figure 1), significant stormy weather is expected from March 23 to 28 in the eastern Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf coast. Heavy to torrential rain is forecast for Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, southern Turkey, northern Egypt, Syria, Palestine, Iraq, eastern Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, eastern Oman, and western and southern Iran, with localized extremely heavy downpours. The cumulative precipitation in these areas is expected to be 30-60 mm, with 80-120 mm in parts of northeastern UAE, northeastern Oman, and southwestern Iran, and locally exceeding 150 mm (Figure 2). Additionally, these regions will experience winds of 4-6 on the Beaufort scale, with gusts of 7-8, and coastal areas may see gusts of 9-10 (Figure 3). Central and northern Egypt, central and northern Saudi Arabia, and southern Iraq will face blowing sand or dust, with sandstorms in some areas and severe sandstorms locally in western Saudi Arabia. Attention should be given to the potential for secondary disasters such as flash floods and urban flooding caused by the heavy rainfall, with a particular focus on the risk of extreme flooding in desert regions of central and northern Saudi Arabia due to intense rain.

Figure 1. Forecast of 500 hPa Geopotential Height (contours, units: dagpm) and 925 hPa Wind Field (wind barbs, units: m/s) at 00:00 UTC on March 25, 2026

Figure 2. Accumulated Precipitation from 00:00 UTC March 23, 2026, to 00:00 UTC March 29, 2026 (Shaded, Units: mm)

Figure 3. Forecast of Maximum Gust Wind Speed from 1200 UTC March 24 to 1200 UTC March 25, 2026 (Unit: m/s)

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Author: Huo Da                                 Reviewer: Bao Yuanyuan 

English reviewer:Wang Yi                                                     Issue approver:Dai Kan