Lebanon Braces for Stormy Weekend and Possible Flash Floods
Lebanon Braces for Rain, Thunderstorms and Strong Winds as Cold Weather System Moves In
The Meteorological Department at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation forecasts cloudy weather on Saturday, with temperatures continuing to drop. Dense fog is expected over the mountains, reducing visibility, while scattered rainfall is forecast, at times heavy, accompanied by thunderstorms and hail. Flooding is also possible on roads, particularly before noon. Winds are expected to strengthen, reaching speeds of 65 km/h, causing sea waves to rise to around two meters. Rainfall is expected to ease by evening.
The weather bulletin reads as follows:
General Situation:
Lebanon and the eastern Mediterranean basin will gradually come under the influence of a low-pressure system accompanied by cold air masses, centered over the Black Sea. This will bring unsettled and rainy conditions, along with a noticeable drop in temperatures. The system is expected to intensify on Friday afternoon, bringing thunderstorms, strong winds and flash flooding on roads. It will remain in effect until Sunday afternoon, when it will begin to move away and weather conditions will gradually stabilize.
Average November temperatures:
- Tripoli: 14–23°C
- Beirut: 17–25°C
- Zahle: 8–20°C
Weather Forecast for Lebanon:
Friday: Cloudy, with a further drop in temperatures, which will fall below seasonal averages. Fog will form over the mountains, while scattered rain is expected to become heavy at times from the afternoon onward, accompanied by thunderstorms and hail, potentially causing flash floods on roads, particularly overnight. Winds will strengthen, reaching speeds of 60 km/h, with rising sea waves.
Saturday: Cloudy, with temperatures continuing to fall. Dense fog will form over the mountains, significantly reducing visibility. Scattered rain is expected, at times heavy, accompanied by thunderstorms and hail, with possible flash flooding on roads before noon. Winds will strengthen, reaching speeds of 65 km/h, while sea waves are expected to reach around two meters. Rainfall will gradually ease from the evening onward.
Sunday: Cloudy to partly cloudy, with temperatures dropping further and cold conditions prevailing. Fog will form over the mountains, with scattered rainfall expected before noon and some snowfall above 2,500 meters. Rain will gradually subside during the day, and weather conditions will stabilize.
Additional Weather Details:
- Temperatures: 15–24°C along the coast, 7–15°C in the mountains, and 8–15°C inland.
- Surface winds: Southwesterly, occasionally active, with speeds ranging from 15 to 35 km/h.
- Visibility: Moderate along the coast and poor over the mountains due to fog.
- Relative humidity along the coast: 70–85%.
- Sea conditions: Slight to rough, with a water surface temperature of 25°C.
