A severe hailstorm swept across Yemen's Amran province, covering mountains, farmland and residential areas with a thick layer of hail in a rare midsummer weather event.

The storm, accompanied by heavy rain and thunderstorms, transformed large parts of the province into white-covered landscapes. The heaviest hail was reported in Harf District, where agricultural fields and surrounding areas were blanketed within a short period.

Footage shared on social media showed extensive hail accumulation across rural areas, with local residents describing the weather as highly unusual for the summer season.

Local meteorologists attributed the storm to atmospheric instability caused by northwesterly winds and the convergence of low-, mid- and high-level cloud systems over Amran and the nearby capital, Sana'a. They said the conditions triggered intense thunderstorms and widespread hail across the region.

Forecasters warned that unstable weather conditions could persist in the coming hours, raising the possibility of additional thunderstorms and hail in parts of northwestern Yemen.

The hailstorm came as much of Europe continued to experience an intense heatwave, underscoring the sharp contrast in weather conditions between the two regions.(ILKHA)