KUWAIT CITY, Jan 11: The Al-Ujairi Scientific Center has forecast an intense cold spell during the period locally known as “Al-Aziraq,” which will last for eight nights beginning on January 24.

In a statement, the center explained that mid-January marks the start of a new winter phase known as the Shabat season, which begins on January 14 and continues for 26 days. This period represents the peak of winter and is typically associated with the coldest conditions of the year.

According to the center, Shabat is characterized by the formation of frost and a gradual increase in daylight hours as the Earth moves closer to the spring equinox, causing days to lengthen and nights to shorten.

The cold intensifies during the Al-Aziraq phase, a term used by Kuwaitis to describe a period of severe chill. The name refers to the deep blue appearance of the sky and the bluish effect the cold can have on exposed skin due to extremely low temperatures. This phase is accompanied by cold northerly winds that significantly lower temperatures.

The center noted that similar periods are referred to in some countries as “the blue cold,” while others describe it as “the belly cold.” Shabat is divided into two equal phases, each lasting 13 days and associated with specific stars, underscoring its importance in traditional seasonal weather patterns.