The freezing weather gripping large parts of the country will continue over the next few days, according to the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME). Hussain Al-Qahtani, PME spokesman, said the Kingdom's northern parts will be hit by the coldest weather, with the possibility of frost and snowfall on Al-Loaz Mountain. “The cold weather will continue throughout the Kingdom but will be less severe than last week.” Meanwhile, charity organizations all over the Kingdom started disbursing SR180 million in aid given by the Ministry of Social Affairs to needy and poor families, to help them cope with the cold weather. Chest and respiratory specialists have warned people, who are spending their spring break in cold places, from going out at night or exposing their children and the elderly to the freezing weather for a long period. Heavy snow and rain have been falling since Sunday evening in Tabuk, close to the Saudi-Jordanian border. Maj. Gen. Muhammad Humood Al-Themali, Commander of the Frontier Guard in Tabuk Region, said: “The Emir of Tabuk directed us to be on full alert to provide any urgent help to people living in areas where there is heavy snowfall.” Col. Mamdouh Al-Eneizi, director of public and media relations at Tabuk Civil Defense, warned the public that there was a possibility of floods and that they should not go to low areas such as valleys. Al-Shamli City, west Hail, was hit Sunday by a cold spell, recorded at five degrees below zero; while the hospitals in Yanbu admitted large numbers of patients to their emergency units due to the severe cold weather and dust that hit the city. Sources at hospitals in Yanbu told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that hospitals expected large numbers of people. Most of those admitted had come to visit Yanbu. __
