Abstract
This paper describes a convective system, which brought heavy rainfall leading towards a flash flood on November 25, 2009, over Jeddah city and its surrounding regions. Meteosat Second Generation Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (MSG-SEVIRI) based near-real-time MSG-RGB (red, green, blue) composites and cloud top temperature images are used for the assessment of convection stages during the event. Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) data is used to quantify the rainfall amount and found reliable as compared with ground observations. Air mass RGB serves as an effective tool for the visual enhancement of cumulonimbus (Cb) clouds as well as differentiating them from other local features. Cloud top temperatures obtained from MSG IR10.8 channel show that the threshold values of cloud top below 220 degrees K can lead to rainfall with the intensity of 10 mm/hr or above over Jeddah region. The results from MSG-SEVIRI and TRMM satellite data show that satellite data could serve as an effective tool for the near real-time monitoring of the rainfall event, when analysing convection stages. The study suggests that where ground measurements are minimal, satellite information can be used in as part of a flood warning system to minimise the aftermaths of a flood disaster.