Saudi Arabia Denies Viral Video about Snowfall in Masjid al-Haram

VIVA – A viral video showing snowfall in the Grand Mosque of Mecca has been widely making rounds on social media recently. The 28-second video shows pilgrims performing tawaf at the Kaaba and being showered by snowfall.

However, an official weather institution in Saudi Arabia has denied the viral video. They obtained the fact that the temperature around Mecca on January 1-2, 2023, ranged from 25-30 degrees Celsius. High temperatures that are unlikely to snow. Heavy rain did fall in the Mecca area on Monday, but not snowfall.

National Meteorological Center in Saudi Arabia said that video footage recently circulating on social media purportedly showing snowfall at the Masjid al-Haram, Mecca is fake, as reported by Haramain Sharifain.

The Mecca snowfall video in circulation is a technically modified video using filters. The circulation of this fake video comes as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is affected by unstable weather conditions, and rain is expected in Mecca Al-Mukarramah and the holy sites.

The clarification came as social media users were stunned to see snow at the Grand Mosque and it even started trending on social sites.

Meanwhile, the National Meteorological Center issued a warning of potential rain for several areas including Mecca, Jeddah, Rabigh, and Al-Kamil. The Meteorological Office expects rain accompanied by surface wind activity, high waves, hail, heavy rain, and low visibility.

Snowfall is expected in the northern region of Saudi Arabia, Turaif, but not the Grand Mosque of Mecca, and the Nabawi mosque, Medina.