THIS is the jaw-dropping moment flash floods rip through Saudi Arabia amid a torrential deluge and terrifying thunderstorms.
Shocking footage shows vicious streams of muddy water filling the streets near the holy city of Mecca as lightning strikes from above.
In the staggering clips, torrents of rainwater are seen swamping the streets and rushing down pavements.
Heavy rain showers the roads as cars are caught up in the horror storm.
And some drivers steer through the biblical floods as they attempt to navigate the swamped neighbourhoods.
Brutal weather was seen on motorways as soaked trucks powered through both strong winds and violent showers.
Dramatic clips also showed lightning flare up the night sky amid the massive downpour.
Local media reported unstable weather conditions and thunderstorms concentrated on the northern and western parts of the kingdom.
Intense rains are expected to continue on Thursday before becoming heavier towards the weekend.
Coastal regions such as Mecca, Jeddah, Madinah will be affected by the vicious weather.
Windspeeds of up to 50km per hour were reported in some parts of the country on Wednesday night.
Wave heights were also reportedly recorded up to two-and-a-half metres tall.
Hail is expected to make landfall on Wednesday accompanied by strong winds following the brutal floods.
Saudi Arabia’s weather authority also said the regions of Jazan, Asir, Al-Baha, and Mecca were expected to be hit by extreme rain.
It comes after the Arab kingdom was hit by torrential rainfall which battered parts of the Middle East last year.
Cars were swept away in the Saudi deluge as roads were transformed into raging rivers and the country was plunged into soaking wet misery.
Several major highways in the Kingdom were devastated by floodwater with shocking footage showing pop-up waterfalls pouring off the side of pathways.
Locals left their motors abandoned in the streets as they ran for safety from the rushing water.
Qassim was one of the worst affected areas leaving residents forced to wade through water up to their knees.
Some were even forced to stay inside as the water was building up at such a dramatic rate.
Thunder and lightening was also heard throughout Saudi Arabia with one citizen telling AFP it “was illuminating the city”.
