برَد كثيف يفاجئ اليمنيين في عزّ الحر

The governorate of Amran (northern Yemen) was not expecting an ordinary rain; on a hot summer afternoon, the sky suddenly transformed into a dense gray canvas, before an unprecedented hailstorm poured down, covering the mountains and plains with a white layer as if winter had descended on the region out of season.

Within minutes, the scene changed completely, and the villages resembled snowy resorts, while the residents stood astonished at this extraordinary event that took over social media with its images and clips.

An Unprecedented Hailstorm

The storm covered vast areas of the Khawf district, especially the villages of Awlah and Al-Hammam, where hailstones accumulated densely over fields, roads, and elevations. The scene looked more like snowfall, even though the event occurred at the height of summer.
The storm extended to parts of the Rida district, and the large hailstones caused initial damage to some agricultural crops, without any reported human losses, according to residents' accounts.

Explanation of the Sudden Weather Condition

Weather expert Turki Al-Muhayya explained that the condition resulted from the accumulation of low, medium, and high clouds over the highlands of Amran and Sana'a, coinciding with an early arrival of moist monsoon winds. This atmospheric interaction led to the formation of strong thunderstorm clouds accompanied by heavy rains and dense hail, with expectations of continued formation of rain cells in the following hours.
Although the Yemeni highlands typically experience hailstorms during the rainy season, the intensity of the hail that covered the roads and fields in this manner was considered an exceptional case even for mountainous areas.

Widespread Reaction and Striking Scenes

Images and clips spread widely, and Yemenis likened them to winter scenes in cold countries, in a striking contrast coinciding with severe heatwaves hitting parts of Europe.