RIYADH – The majestic mountains in southern Saudi Arabia has just turnedinto a winter wonderland on Tuesday, according to local press reports.

The official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported in a tweet on Tuesday thatthe April snowfall has blanketed the picturesque Asir region, including themain city of Abha, in white, Gulf News has reported.

Local news sites also reported that the snow cover followed rain and hailstorms on Monday, which sent the termperature down.

Asir has been developed into a tourist site, both for domestic andinternational visitors.

Geographically, the Asir Region is situated on a high plateau that receivesmore rainfall than the rest of the country and contains the country’shighest peaks — which rise to almost 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) at Jabal Sawdanear Abha.

The southwestern region, which shares a short border with Yemen, has anarea of 76,693 square kilometres (29,611 sq mi) of which the capital of theis Abha. Other towns include Khamis Mushait, Bisha and Bareq.

The average annual rainfall in the highlands is reported to range from 300to 500 millimetres (12 to 20 in) falling in two rainy seasons — the chiefone being in March and April.

Temperatures can be extreme. While afternoon temperatures can hover above30°C, mornings can be extremely frosty and fog can curb visibilitysignificantly.