High temperatures are anticipated during next month’s annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, according to a chief meteorologist. Over 2 million Muslims from around the world are expected to attend the upcoming Hajj in and around the holy city of Mecca.
Saudi agencies are preparing for a record number of pilgrims, following the approximately 30 million Muslims who performed Umrah, the minor pilgrimage, at the Grand Mosque in Mecca during the past Islamic sacred month of Ramadan.
Ayman Ghulam, head of the Saudi National Centre of Meteorology, stated that this year’s Hajj season falls in June, a period typically characterized by high temperatures and humidity levels.
He told Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV that a recent workshop focused on the climate impact on the 2024 Hajj and discussed strategies for managing food within pilgrims’ camps during the season. The high temperatures increase the risk of heat stress for pilgrims.
“It was essential to coordinate with the concerned agencies and inform them of the weather forecasts at the holy sites so they can take necessary precautions during this year’s Hajj,” Ghulam added.
