JEDDAH — Ramadan is slowly moving to the winter season, away from the scorching summer season but the fasting faithful have to wait for 10 more years to enjoy a nice and pleasant weather. But for Saudis it would not take more than four years to witness Ramadan in a rainy season, says Dr. Khaled Al-Zaaq, a member of Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Science. He said he expects the month of Ramadan this year to be of 30 days and Wednesday (July 6) would be the first day of Eid Al-Fitr in most parts of the Islamic world. Al-Zaaq said he expected a substantial fall in Ramadan temperatures in the coming years. "After seven years, the whole Ramadan will be in spring season," he told Okaz/Saudi Gazette. Climatic seasons will see variations after every 33 years. The Hijrah year is regressing compared to the Gregorian and the Ramadan is going back to join the spring season after four years. It will be in the last days of the holy month, he explained. "The whole Ramadan will be in the spring season after seven years," he said. "In 1441H you can enjoy cold weather from the beginning of Ramadan and in 1446H Ramadan will be in winter." Al-Zaaq said Ramadan will continue in the hot season in the coming three years. However, he pointed out that the degree of temperature would start declining. "Next year, for example, the temperature in Ramadan will be less than what we experience now and in 1439H it would be less than 1438H," he added. He said Ramadan would remain in a single climatic period for nine years. "It will stay nine years in winter and then nine years in summer," he pointed out. Speaking about temperatures in the remaining days of Ramadan this year, Al-Zaaq said it could reach up to 50 degrees Celsius in Iraq and Kuwait and in the Kingdom's Eastern Province.
