Freezing temperatures recorded in Saudi Arabia

An enduring cold snap has gripped Saudi Arabia on Monday as temperatures dipped to -6 degrees Celsius in parts of the kingdom.

The cold weather was a result snowstorm Alexa which has swept the Middle East for the past four days, allowing surprise snowfall in several parts of the region, including Cairo and Damascus.

Saudi authorities rescued 23 people, including seven women and 11 children, who were stuck in the snowy al-Lawz Mountain in Tabuk, near the Jordanian border, on Saturday evening.

Two jets saved all 23 people and carried them to Tabuk, Civil Defense Forces official Mastour al-Harthi said in a statement.

Stormy weather brought snow and heavy rains in Saudi Arabia this week, where the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment expected a sharp decrease in temperatures for another week.