Riyadh: The hottest period of summer began on Thursday, bringing several weeks of peak annual temperatures to most regions of the Kingdom. Barjas Al-Fulaih of the AFAQ Society for Astronomy told the Saudi Press Agency that this phase, which runs from mid-July to early August, is traditionally known as the "date cooker" because the intense heat accelerates the ripening of dates.

According to Saudi Press Agency, Al-Fulaih urged the public to follow safety guidelines by avoiding direct sunlight during peak hours and drinking plenty of fluids to prevent heat stress and sunstroke.