hail
An unusual freak hailstorm hit Saudi Arabia on April 6, 2016 covering the desert, streets and entire cities with white icy stones.

The thunderstorms were so powerful that they created a tornado just 100km way from Riyadh.

And here it comes:

storm
Stormy conditions are growing and sweeping across Saudi Arabia since Monday, April 3, 2016.

The storm line has now reached central Saudi Arabia where the desert suddenly turned white on April 6, 2016.

Hail

hail
hail
The low is sweeping from North to South and si currently flooding the city of Ta'if in biblical proportions.

Hailstones
Hail
Extreme wind gusts are also accompanying the stormy weather.

So there is cold air coming from the north and warm air coming from the south. As the clash in the center of the country, they create a kind of belt, responsible for this extreme weather phenomenon.

Sometimes the strong winds are creating sand tornado and sandstorms. This one was captured just 100km away from Riyadh!

Sandsorm
© VK
Sandstorm
This extreme weather also reached Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and western Yemen.

Anomalous is the best terminology I can find!