Heavy rain in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain... unstable weather until Thursday

LATEST:Heavy rain fell today (Wednesdsay) in areas and villages of the Emirate of Fujairah, amid reports of more rains nationwide.

‘The rains were accompanied with thunderstorms, lightning and drop in temperature. The streets and lower areas were clogged with water, while the farms were inundated.

The sky is still overcast as more rains are expected in the coming hours. Meanwhile, rains were reported in Khor Fakkan and Kalba in the Emirate of Sharjah.

UPDATE: National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology Centre (NCMS) has said that the unstable weather currently affecting the UAE would continue as clouds gather with formation of some cumulus clouds and increasing thunderstorms.

It predicted in a statement that this unstable weather will last until Thursday evening.

NMSC forecast rainfall of different intensity in many areas, leading to flooding in valleys near the highlands in the eastern and northern areas of the country.

It added that the wind will be moderate to brisk, and the Arab Gulf and the Arabian Sea will be sometimes rough.

The centre revealed that the highest rain recorded in Al Shuaib area reached 240 cubic millimetres, and the highest wind speed recorded at Bateen Airport until 11am on Wednesday reached 126 km per hour.

EARLIER REPORT: In its 10am report, the UAE’s Met office has stated neighbouring areas around Jebel Ali and Al Maktoum Airport are experiencing heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.
Motorists in Jebel Ali are also reporting low visibility driving conditions, with Samer Chami tweeting: “Visibility is near “0” around Jebel Ali area in Dubai now. Had to pull over and stop. Very bad driving conditions…be cautious!”

Andy Turner also tweeted of similar driving conditions, saying: “Avoid Jebel Ali Industrial Areas - all main roads are really flooded - people driving the wrong way on roads.”

Turner stated Jebel Ali Industrial area 1 has been severely affected by the waterlogging.

Video by Jain Dsouza

Image courtesy Vikas Sareen

Meanwhile, a Jebel Ali resident has also tweeted his building security had to pull him out of his building after water levels rose about ‘12 inches’.

Reports are also coming in of severe waterlogging in Dubai Sports City, with the Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai tweeting: “Make sure to reduce the speed during a rainy weather and watch out water pools to avoid sliding.”

Trafficdxb tweeted: “Sports City and IMPZ flooded. Roads under water.”

Posted on Twitter by MKDubai

Dubai Police has issued an alert, saying: “Dear drivers, kindly take extra caution due to heavy rain.”

The Garden City faced the wrath of the weather as heavy rainfall lashed most of Al Ain and Abu Dhabi early Wednesday morning, resulting in waterlogging across several key roads, even as authorities issued flashflood warnings.

Abu Dhabi city and the surrounding Khalifa and Masdar City also experienced hailstorms as a low pressure system sweeps across the region, bringing rain to most of UAE, along with neighbouring Oman and Qatar.

Water levels had risen in Madinat Zayed following yesterday’s torrential rains, with cars stuck in flood-like conditions in the Western part of UAE. Video by Al Aree7

[Video by Imran Jutt]

The UAE's National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) has stated the low pressure system, coming from eastern Arabian Peninsula will continue to deepen on Wednesday, with its effects trailing into Thursday.

In a statement, the Met office added: "The unstable weather will continue affecting the UAE and the cloud amount will increase over scattered areas with towering and thundery clouds associated with fresh to strong winds with different intensity causing runoff valleys especially near the mountainous areas.

"The peak situation will be on Wednesday until Thursday evening."

أمطار غزيرة مع برد على السمحة وغنتوت pic.twitter.com/6c1UFEKICZ

— UAE WEATHER (@NCMS_media) March 9, 2016

Ghantoot
The NCMS has further advised residents to take caution of low visibility conditions due to heavy rain at times, coupled with slippery roads.

Authorities are also advising residents of flashfloods over some areas and strong winds.

According to reports, parts of Al Ain recorded as high as 77mm, while surrounding areas recorded rainfall between 65-70mm.

Meanwhile, both Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah police authorities have put an action plan into effect for the unstable weather, which includes road closures and increased patrolling.

Photo by Nemibeckz

On Tuesday, Fujairah authorities temporarily shut Yabsa street in both directions, which could face waterlogging from rain water gushing down the mountain slopes.

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