Will the sun's alignment with the Kaaba on the Day of Arafah lead to record-breaking temperatures?

The Islamic world is witnessing an exceptional astronomical phenomenon this year, one that occurs only once every 33 years: the sun's alignment directly overhead the Kaaba coincides with the Day of Arafah. This rare occurrence has prompted many to wonder whether it will lead to record-breaking temperatures.

The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia confirmed that the perpendicularity of the sun's rays is a natural astronomical phenomenon that occurs annually in a number of regions located within the tropics, and does not necessarily mean exceptional rises or clear differences in announced temperatures, noting that temperatures are affected by several overlapping weather and climate factors.

The center explained that the most prominent of these factors are humidity levels, wind speed and direction, the presence of clouds, in addition to the nature of the air masses affecting them, and not just the angle of incidence of the sun’s rays.

The official spokesman for the National Center for Meteorology, Hussein bin Mohammed Al-Qahtani, confirmed that this phenomenon is known astronomically and occurs periodically every year, and is monitored and followed up as part of the usual natural phenomena, noting that what is being circulated about the connection of the sun’s perpendicularity to unprecedented rises in temperatures needs accurate scientific clarification.

Al-Qahtani added that the center relies on an integrated system of monitoring stations, modern technologies and numerical models in issuing its weather data and reports, which ensures the accuracy of information related to temperatures and various weather phenomena, calling on everyone to obtain information from official sources and follow the alerts and updates issued by the National Center for Meteorology.