It seems the planet is giving a cold shoulder all around. There are record low temperatures and record high amounts of snowfall affecting various parts of the US. Snow in New Orleans? Snow and record lows (19F/-8C) in Seattle? And -10F/-23C in Colorado? Wind chill in Alaska to -35F/-37F… it seems to make a mockery of global warming.

The cold is affecting Saudi Arab farmers in the northern part of the country, who fear for their crops, reports Arab News. Temperatures could reach sub-zero (Celsius) overnight. Even in the southern region of Najran, the paper notes, farmers are keeping a weather eye open.

Cold spell upsets farmers

HAIL: Thursday was recorded the coldest day in the city of Hail with the temperature dipping to minus 5.

The minimum temperature is likely to remain as low as minus 2 C over the next three days, and the maximum not exceeding 15 degrees Celsius, according to a weather forecast by the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME).

Last year, the lowest temperature recorded in the Kingdom was in Jubbah town, about 100 km from Hail, where the temperature dropped to minus 10 Celsius. The entire northern part of the Kingdom can expect a severe cold spell during the next few days.

Al-Watan daily reported yesterday that many water pipelines cracked due to the chill and early-morning frost covered the windshields of cars making it difficult for people to venture out. Schools were told to suspend outdoor activities until the cold spell is over. Officials at girls’ schools in the neighboring Al-Jouf province, have ordered about 2,500 heaters for 460 schools.
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Meanwhile, Saudi Gazette reports that because of the cold, prices for wood fuel are soaring—and non-negotiable–in Najran.