Crops · dekad 2026-08-11

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is 3rd most stressed of 26 observations for this point in the season, and 3rd steepest fall of 26. None of its 12 crop regions is at a record low on the measure that adds up the whole season, marked below, which is also the slowest of them to move.

One of Saudi Arabia's 12 crop regions has never looked worse than it does today.

Three instruments, 12 regions, one day. Each region against its own 26 years, never against another region.

Vegetation, current

1 of 12 regions at their own record

Saudi Arabia: 0.57 standard deviations below normal

Eastern Province. 2nd lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Jawf. lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Tabuk. 2nd lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Quassim. 5th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Riyad. 4th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Hail. 8th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Makkah. 13th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Najran. 12th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Baha. 19th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Jizan. 19th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Madinah. 22nd lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Asir. 23rd lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026

Water satisfaction

0 of 12 regions at their own record

Saudi Arabia: 13% of crop water need met, normally 12%

Eastern Province. 26th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Jawf. 23rd lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Tabuk. 15th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Quassim. 25th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Riyad. 26th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Hail. 16th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Makkah. 15th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Najran. 11th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Baha. 10th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Jizan. 15th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Madinah. 13th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Asir. 17th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026

Rainfall, 3-month

0 of 12 regions at their own record

Saudi Arabia: 0.18 standard deviations below normal

Eastern Province. not measuredJawf. 23rd lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Tabuk. 23rd lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Quassim. 17th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Riyad. 13th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Hail. 14th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Makkah. 6th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Najran. 10th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Baha. 8th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Jizan. 9th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Madinah. 3rd lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026Asir. 12th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Colour
at this region's normalfar below
Outline
A heavy outline is that region's worst in 26 years. Different facts: a region can be dark without an outline, meaning far from normal but it has been worse, or outlined without being darkest, a record but a narrow one.
One scale, three instruments
Every panel saturates at 2.5 standard deviations below that region's own normal, so a colour means the same distance-from-normal on all three. It does not mean the same consequence: these measure different things and move at different speeds. The figures under each heading stay in the instrument's own units.

A fourth instrument is not shown here. Cumulative vegetation, the crop-outcome measure closest to yield, reads 4th of 26 for this country with no region at a record. It integrates from the start of the season, so it is structurally the last to move and reads calmest exactly when a fast deterioration is under way. It is left off the panels to keep three maps comparable in kind; it is on the page in full below.

Vegetation, cumulativethe harvest measure0of 12
Vegetation, current1of 12
Water satisfaction0of 12
Rainfall, 3-month0of 11
Temperature6of 12

What moved, and when

Each square is one dekad, and its shade shows how many of this country’s crop regions stood at their own worst on record for that point in the season. Rows are ordered by how much time each instrument summarises, shortest first, because a shorter window can move sooner. That order is fixed and is the same on every country page.

Vegetation, currentthis dekadalready elevated when this window opens, so nothing here shows when it began
Soil moisturethis dekadalready elevated when this window opens, so nothing here shows when it began
Temperaturethis dekad
Rainfall, 3-monththe past 3 months
Vegetation, cumulativethe season so far, from sowingalready elevated when this window opens, so nothing here shows when it began
Water satisfactionthe season so far, as a water balance
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAug
none at a recordone regionfewer than a thirda third to three quartersmost or alltoo few regions reporting to saynot reported
What connects these rows

The driver is water. This section says what moved and when. It never says because.

These 23 dekads were picked rather than derived. A shorter window changes which peak looks like the first, and a sequence visible inside a window may not exist outside it.

How bad is it, against this country’s own record

Five instruments read together our combination, not an observation

3rd worst (joint) of 26 years at this point in the season

The joint 3rd most stressed of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026, across 5 instruments read together, level with 2023

2023202620012026

What the instruments say

The canopy is in its worst third, while water satisfaction and rainfall are in mid-range.

Each track is that instrument’s own 26 years, worst on the left.

Vegetation, cumulative-0.564th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Vegetation, current-0.623rd lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Water satisfaction13%15th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Rainfall, 3-month-0.2211th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Soil moisturenot reportedSoil moisture has not reported for this dekad. Its newest observation is 1 dekad behind the crop-outcome instrument.
Temperature34.2 °C5th highest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026

Five instruments, each against its own 26 years for this point in the season. They are shown together because they can disagree: a region can sit at a record low on vegetation while water or rainfall sits in its best third. 38 of the 196 regions at a record low on current vegetation have water or rainfall sitting in its own best third at the same moment, about one in five. This page reports where each one sits and does not say what caused what.

Every region of Saudi Arabia, worst to least

Each bar is the full spread of that region’s previous 25 years at this point in the season. The dot is this year. A dot at the left of a wide bar and a dot at the left of a narrow bar are different findings, which is why the history is drawn rather than described.

its normalworsebetterEastern ProvinceHailJawfTabukRiyadQuassimMakkahNajranBahaJizanMadinahAsir

Regions in colour are at their worst on record. The rest are placed on the same scale so a single deep region inside an otherwise ordinary country reads differently from a country where the whole distribution has moved.

Eastern Province

-1.45 2nd lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026

20012026
Vegetation, cumulative-1.452nd lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Vegetation, current-1.422nd lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Water satisfaction3%26th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Rainfall, 3-monthnot reportedRainfall, 3-month is not defined for this region at this point in the season.
Soil moisturenot reportedSoil moisture has not reported for this dekad. Its newest observation is 1 dekad behind the crop-outcome instrument.
Temperature40.5 °Chighest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026

same dekad, 2001-2025

Hail

-1.05 8th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026

20012026
Vegetation, cumulative-1.058th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Vegetation, current-1.118th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Water satisfaction1%16th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Rainfall, 3-month-0.4614th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Soil moisturenot reportedSoil moisture has not reported for this dekad. Its newest observation is 1 dekad behind the crop-outcome instrument.
Temperature36.0 °C3rd highest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026

same dekad, 2001-2025

Jawf

-0.81 2nd lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026

20012026
Vegetation, cumulative-0.812nd lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Vegetation, current-0.79lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Water satisfaction2%23rd lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Rainfall, 3-month-0.1723rd lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Soil moisturenot reportedSoil moisture has not reported for this dekad. Its newest observation is 1 dekad behind the crop-outcome instrument.
Temperature32.4 °C11th highest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026

same dekad, 2001-2025

Tabuk

-0.78 4th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026

20012026
Vegetation, cumulative-0.784th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Vegetation, current-0.772nd lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Water satisfaction3%15th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Rainfall, 3-month+0.2023rd lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Soil moisturenot reportedSoil moisture has not reported for this dekad. Its newest observation is 1 dekad behind the crop-outcome instrument.
Temperature31.4 °C11th highest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026

same dekad, 2001-2025

Riyad

-0.70 7th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026

20012026
Vegetation, cumulative-0.707th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Vegetation, current-0.884th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Water satisfaction4%26th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Rainfall, 3-month-0.2513th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Soil moisturenot reportedSoil moisture has not reported for this dekad. Its newest observation is 1 dekad behind the crop-outcome instrument.
Temperature38.6 °Chighest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026

same dekad, 2001-2025

Quassim

-0.61 6th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026

20012026
Vegetation, cumulative-0.616th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Vegetation, current-0.825th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Water satisfaction2%25th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Rainfall, 3-month-0.4717th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Soil moisturenot reportedSoil moisture has not reported for this dekad. Its newest observation is 1 dekad behind the crop-outcome instrument.
Temperature37.3 °C3rd highest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026

same dekad, 2001-2025

Makkah

-0.09 13th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026

Vegetation here usually tracks water availability.

20012026
Vegetation, cumulative-0.0913th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Vegetation, current-0.2613th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Water satisfaction39%15th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Rainfall, 3-month-0.446th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Soil moisturenot reportedSoil moisture has not reported for this dekad. Its newest observation is 1 dekad behind the crop-outcome instrument.
Temperature33.1 °Chighest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026

same dekad, 2001-2025

Najran

+0.01 14th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026

20012026
Vegetation, cumulative+0.0114th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Vegetation, current-0.1812th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Water satisfaction8%11th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Rainfall, 3-month-0.5710th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Soil moisturenot reportedSoil moisture has not reported for this dekad. Its newest observation is 1 dekad behind the crop-outcome instrument.
Temperature31.3 °Chighest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026

same dekad, 2001-2025

Baha

+0.33 18th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026

Vegetation here usually tracks water availability.

20012026
Vegetation, cumulative+0.3318th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Vegetation, current+0.2619th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Water satisfaction20%10th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Rainfall, 3-month-0.188th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Soil moisturenot reportedSoil moisture has not reported for this dekad. Its newest observation is 1 dekad behind the crop-outcome instrument.
Temperature32.2 °Chighest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026

same dekad, 2001-2025

Jizan

+0.55 19th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026

Vegetation here usually tracks water availability.

20012026
Vegetation, cumulative+0.5519th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Vegetation, current+0.4219th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Water satisfaction66%15th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Rainfall, 3-month-0.179th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Soil moisturenot reportedSoil moisture has not reported for this dekad. Its newest observation is 1 dekad behind the crop-outcome instrument.
Temperature33.8 °C3rd highest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026

same dekad, 2001-2025

Madinah

+0.77 22nd lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026

Vegetation here usually tracks water availability.

20012026
Vegetation, cumulative+0.7722nd lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Vegetation, current+0.7822nd lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Water satisfaction1%13th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Rainfall, 3-month-0.903rd lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Soil moisturenot reportedSoil moisture has not reported for this dekad. Its newest observation is 1 dekad behind the crop-outcome instrument.
Temperature35.7 °C2nd highest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026

same dekad, 2001-2025

Asir

+1.10 23rd lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026

Vegetation here usually tracks water availability.

20012026
Vegetation, cumulative+1.1023rd lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Vegetation, current+1.0123rd lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Water satisfaction57%17th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Rainfall, 3-month+0.1212th lowest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026
Soil moisturenot reportedSoil moisture has not reported for this dekad. Its newest observation is 1 dekad behind the crop-outcome instrument.
Temperature32.0 °Chighest of 26 observations for this point in the season, 2001-2026

same dekad, 2001-2025

This measurement is of the crop canopy and not of what stressed it: heat, drought, disease and late planting are not separable here, which is why no claim on this page names a cause.

Kristjan Lepik (2026). The Long Swell, Crops. thelongswell.com