It started raining in Taif on Thursday morning.

The Presidency of Meteorology and Environmental (PME) on Thursday warned of low and medium-altitude clouds that are expected to form over Taif province and its surrounding areas, interspersed with rain-bearing storm clouds and active surface wind, which will continue until late Friday.

The Civil Defense department in the province called on citizens and residents to be careful and stay away from valleys with the advent of the rainy season.

Civil Defense spokesman in Taif Col. Nasser Al-Sharif said his department has completed all preparations to deal with different situations that may arise.

Al-Sharif urged all citizens and residents to be careful, stay away from valleys and flood paths, refrain from using the mobile phones to avoid lightning accidents and follow the instructions and guidelines of the Civil Defense.

He said such guidelines are available through the website www.998.gov.sa or through the social networking sites.

Meanwhile, the General Directorate of Civil Defense in Al-Baha concluded Thursday a training program for its employees on how to drive safely. The program, which lasted four days, was part of the on-the-job training.

The director of relations and media at the Directorate of Civil Defense in the region, Maj. Ahmad Al-Qarni, stressed the importance of such useful programs that are aimed to hone the skills of the drivers and increase their awareness.

In a separate development, the Civil Defense in Makkah said it carried out a firefighting, rescue and swift intervention drill at an electric converter station on the Fourth Ring Road on Tuesday.

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