Mecca Under Heavy Rain: Worshippers Continue Prayers And Tawaf At Grand Mosque As Thunderstorms Sweep Holy City
September 14, 2026: Heavy rain and thunderstorms swept across Makkah on Sunday evening, September 13, as worshippers gathered at the Grand Mosque, Masjid al-Haram, for Maghrib prayer.
Despite the intense downpour, worshippers continued their prayers and tawaf around the Kaaba, creating striking scenes that were widely shared across social media and featured in regional and international news coverage.
The rain came amid weather warnings issued by Saudi authorities, with forecasts pointing to moderate-to-heavy thunderstorms, hail and the possibility of flash flooding in parts of the Makkah region. The National Center for Meteorology warned of significant rainfall and runoff risks, particularly around valleys and low-lying areas.
Saudi Civil Defense urged residents, pilgrims and visitors to exercise caution and avoid wadis, valleys and areas vulnerable to sudden flooding.
Local Saudi media described the rainfall as “amtar al-khair”, meaning “rains of goodness”, a phrase commonly used in Saudi coverage to describe beneficial rainfall.
Although rainfall in Makkah during this period is not unprecedented, the timing of Sunday’s storm, coinciding with worship at the Kaaba, gave the event extraordinary visual and emotional resonance. Videos showed worshippers continuing their religious observances through the heavy rain, while water poured across the vast courtyards of Masjid al-Haram.
The footage and reports were published by Al Jazeera English on September 14, with corresponding reports appearing in Saudi and regional media, including Al Ekhbariya and SPA-linked coverage.
The weather system is expected to remain active across parts of the Makkah region through Monday, September 14, with authorities continuing to warn of thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and possible runoff.
The dramatic images from the Grand Mosque have since travelled far beyond Saudi Arabia, capturing a remarkable moment in which thousands of worshippers continued their prayers despite the force of the storm.
JANPATH NEWS NETWORK (JNN)
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