Rains and thunderstorms struck various areas of the UAE on Tuesday, leading federal and emirate authorities to issue safety advisories for residents and travellers. Residents have been urged to remain indoors as heavy rains inundated streets and resulted in the collapse of a few roads. The National Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) advised residents to venture outside only in cases of absolute necessity.
UAE Weather: Remote working for federal government employees extended
The decision has been taken in consideration of the extreme weather conditions in UAEhttps://t.co/sa75425Lpu
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) April 16, 2024
Rainfall Impact on UAE Aviation
UAE Airports stated that adverse weather conditions impacted 17 flights on Tuesday, both inbound and outbound. Several delayed flights managed to land by noon. “Normal operations at Dubai International (DXB) were affected due to the inclement weather conditions on Tuesday, resulting in delays for arriving and departing flights. As a result, nine outbound and eight inbound flights were cancelled in the morning, with three flights diverted to neighbouring airports. One of the diverted flights has since returned to DXB,” a spokesperson for Dubai Airports stated. They further added, “We are actively working with our service partners and airlines to minimize any inconvenience for our valued guests.”
Rainfall Impact on Lifestyle
Schools swiftly transitioned to online learning overnight, and all government employees were instructed to work from home on Tuesday and Wednesday in UAE due to warnings from the weather bureau about unstable weather conditions intensifying in two phases today. Numerous vehicles broke down as drivers tried to navigate through flooded roads. The sky echoed with thunder and lightning, and in certain areas, large hailstones shattered vehicle windshields. Additionally, residents reported power outages.
Dubai bore the brunt of the severe weather, enduring heavy rainfall and frequent lightning strikes. Reports of power cuts emerged from various areas within the emirate. Across the country, many roads were forced to close as emergency services scrambled to address the impacts of the weather. Adverse conditions are anticipated to persist into Wednesday morning, with convective clouds forming over coastal regions, particularly in the north and east. These clouds are likely to bring continued rainfall and lightning. However, forecasters predict that by noon on Wednesday, these conditions will begin to disperse, offering a respite from the turbulent weather.
Rain is infrequent in the UAE, a dry Arabian Peninsula nation, but does occur intermittently during the cooler winter months. Due to the scarcity of regular rainfall, many roads and other areas are not equipped with proper drainage systems, leading to instances of flooding.
Rainfall was also recorded in Bahrain, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. In nearby Oman, a sultanate situated on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, heavy rains have resulted in at least 18 fatalities in recent days, as reported by the country’s National Committee for Emergency Management on Tuesday. Among the casualties were approximately 10 schoolchildren who were swept away in a vehicle along with an adult. Condolences poured into the country from leaders across the region in response to the tragic incident.
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