Exclusive – Questions have been mounting among citizens about the possibility of the government declaring an official holiday, in light of warnings issued by the Public Security Directorate regarding the impact of the low-pressure system expected to affect the Kingdom starting this evening. The system is forecast to bring occasionally heavy rainfall, active winds, thunderstorms, and hail, particularly across northern and central regions and parts of the southwestern areas.
اضافة اعلان
Despite the official warnings, the information available so far does not indicate a definitive decision to declare a nationwide holiday. Traditionally, the government bases such decisions on an assessment of the actual level of risk on the ground, the geographic scope of the weather impact, its effect on public movement and citizens’ safety, as well as developments during the early hours of the morning following the peak of the low-pressure system.
In its statements, the Public Security Directorate emphasized the need to adhere to preventive guidelines, avoid valleys and flood channels, refrain from attempting to cross water accumulations, exercise caution while driving, and use heating devices safely. These warnings fall within the usual precautionary measures taken under such weather conditions and do not necessarily imply an immediate decision to suspend official working hours.
Meanwhile, clear public concern prevails, driven by past experiences with weather events that led to road closures, accidents, and sudden flash floods. This places the government before the responsibility of taking flexible, proactive decisions—whether by delaying official working hours, granting educational institutions the authority to assess the situation, activating remote work alternatives when necessary, or intensifying media communication to reassure the public.
Citizens are closely monitoring developments in the coming hours, amid assurances from official bodies of their readiness to deal with any emergency. There are growing calls for public safety to remain the top priority and for government decisions to be based on clear criteria that balance the continuity of public services with the protection of lives and property.
