Tropical humidity waves will affect several Arab countries in the coming days.

Arab Weather - Computer simulations within the Arab Weather app predict that eight Arab countries will be affected by weather disturbances in the coming days, resulting from an influx of tropical-type moisture waves. These waves play a significant role in the development of cumulus clouds accompanied by thunderstorms.

God willing, parts of the mountains of Oman and the UAE, as well as the mountains of southwestern Saudi Arabia and Yemen, are expected to be affected by rainy cumulus clouds during the current week. Wet waves will also reach several parts of the Maghreb, especially the western and southern parts of Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, and Sudan.

Tropical humidity and its role in monsoon rains

Tropical humidity, or what is scientifically known as atmospheric rivers, is a long belt of moisture in the atmosphere that carries large quantities of water vapor from the oceans to the land. These rivers play an important role in bringing rain by:

• Moisture transport: An atmospheric river transports moisture-rich air towards land.
• Air rising: When moist air hits mountains or high terrain such as the mountains of southwestern Saudi Arabia and Yemen, it is forced to rise.
• Cooling and Condensation: As air rises, it cools, and cold air cannot hold as much moisture, so the moisture condenses into water droplets.
• Droplet growth: These droplets coalesce to form larger droplets.
• When the droplets become heavy enough, they fall as rain.

It can be thought of as a moving cloud filled with water vapor that releases its water as it rises and cools. This process can sometimes bring heavy rains, causing floods and torrents in areas under its influence. It is also sometimes accompanied by powerful phenomena such as lightning and large hail.

And God knows best.