Al-Azraq cold spell begins Saturday, lasts for approximately eight days

The Al-Ujairi Scientific Center announced that the Al-Azraq cold spell will begin on Saturday, lasting for approximately eight days, as part of the Al-Shabat season.

Astronomer Al-Ajiri Al-Alami explained that this period represents the coldest phase of winter, particularly in open and desert areas.

He noted that daylight hours are gradually increasing while nighttime hours are shortening, as the Earth steadily approaches the spring equinox, reports Al-Jarida daily.

The center clarified that Al-Shabat is divided into two stellar phases — Al-Na’aim and Al-Balda. The Al-Balda star begins on January 28, 2025, and lasts for 13 days, during which the weather is typically cold and humid, with dryness diminishing and the intensity of the cold gradually easing.

He added that the severe cold subsides with the end of Al-Shabat, followed by a gradual rise in temperatures during the Al-Aqrab season, which marks the final phase of winter cold.

Historically, the center recalled the late astronomer Dr. Saleh Al-Ajeeri, who explained that the period is known as “Al-Azraq” because objects appear bluish due to the extreme cold, noting that the severity of this phenomenon varies from year to year.