Heavy rain with thunder and lightning hit parts of country

UAE heavy rainfall

Heavy rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning has swept across various parts of the UAE, inundating streets and prompting cautionary measures from authorities. The National Centre of Meteorology reported instances of overflowing wadis and electrical storms, highlighting the dynamic and unpredictable nature of the weather conditions.

In Al Ain, torrents of rain poured down, submerging roadways as vehicles navigated through the deluge. Videos shared on social media platforms, including Twitter, by weather monitoring accounts such as Storm Centre, depicted the intensity of the rainfall and its impact on local infrastructure. Additionally, regions including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Fujairah experienced varying degrees of precipitation, further emphasizing the widespread nature of the weather event.

The UAE's disaster management authorities, represented by the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA), issued advisories urging residents to exercise caution and adhere to safety protocols during adverse weather conditions. Specifically, motorists were cautioned to exercise vigilance on waterlogged roads and to secure their vehicles in areas susceptible to flooding and hail. Furthermore, individuals were advised to avoid watercourses and mountainous terrain to mitigate the risks associated with inclement weather.

The Abu Dhabi Police took proactive measures by issuing a hailstorm alert for Al Ain and forecasting the likelihood of light to heavy rainfall in parts of Abu Dhabi. This preemptive action aimed to enhance public safety and minimize potential disruptions caused by the adverse weather conditions.

Prior meteorological forecasts had indicated the influence of a surface low-pressure system originating from the Southwest, coupled with an upper-air low-pressure system extension. These weather systems, coupled with a western Jetstream, facilitated the movement of cloud cover across the country, resulting in intermittent rainfall.

As per the latest weather report from the National Centre of Meteorology, Thursday's forecast indicates partly cloudy to cloudy conditions, with convective clouds likely to trigger rainfall in scattered areas of the UAE. Winds are expected to range from light to moderate, intensifying to fresh to strong over the sea, potentially causing blowing dust and sand and reducing horizontal visibility.

An alert has been issued for convective clouds, denoted by yellow and orange alerts across the country. This advisory signifies the possibility of convective cloud formation accompanied by rainfall and fresh winds with speeds of up to 40 km/hr.

Temperature variations are also anticipated, with daytime temperatures reaching highs of 27ºC, while nighttime temperatures could drop to as low as 16ºC in Abu Dhabi and 17ºC in Dubai, with even cooler conditions expected in mountainous regions. Humidity levels are projected to range between 40 to 80 percent in Abu Dhabi and 40 to 75 percent in Dubai.

At sea, moderate to rough conditions are expected, with the possibility of very rough seas at times in the Arabian Gulf and moderate to rough conditions in the Oman Sea by Thursday morning. These conditions underscore the need for maritime caution and adherence to safety protocols by sea travelers.

In summary, the recent bout of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms underscores the importance of proactive weather monitoring and preparedness measures to mitigate risks and ensure public safety amidst fluctuating weather patterns in the UAE.