Hassan Karani, in full Hassan Mustafa Karani, was a Saudi media figure and meteorology specialist who presented the weather bulletin on Saudi television for twenty-nine years, from 1978 to 2006. He took part in conferences and seminars on climate and natural disasters and he died on Friday, January 23, 2026.
How Hassan Karani trained as a forecaster
He began his studies in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, then moved to Jeddah and enrolled at the technical institute affiliated with the Ministry of Defense, where he spent three years studying English and meteorology. He graduated as a weather observer.
Work took him across the country, from Rafha to Al-Qaysumah, then Yanbu and Jazan. He later won a scholarship and travelled to the United States to study weather forecasting for environmental pollution, followed by training in meteorological forecasting management in Australia.
Career milestones of Hassan Karani
- Graduated as a weather observer from a Ministry of Defense technical institute
- Presented the first weather bulletin from Jeddah Television in 1977
- Fronted the Saudi television weather bulletin from 1978 to 2006
- Studied in the United States and Australia
A familiar face on national television
For nearly three decades his bulletin was the country’s main source of daily forecasts, watched by families planning travel and by farmers reading the season. He also joined discussions on climate and natural disasters, subjects that matter in a country where seasonal rain, heat and dust all carry real risk, as anyone tracking winter weather across Saudi Arabia knows.
His death
Hassan Karani died on Friday, January 23, 2026, one day before fellow broadcaster Abdulkarim Al-Muqrin, closing a generation of presenters who built Saudi television’s early identity.
Key takeaways
- Presented the Saudi television weather bulletin for twenty-nine years.
- Delivered the first weather bulletin from Jeddah Television in 1977.
- Trained in meteorology in Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Australia.
Frequently asked questions
How long was he on air?
Twenty-nine years, from 1978 to 2006.
Where did he study?
Jeddah, then the United States and Australia.
When did he die?
January 23, 2026.
Official forecasts today are issued by the National Center for Meteorology.
