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29 March 2024

UAE weather forecast: No storms, fog alert

Published
By Staff

The weather in the UAE will be fair in general and partly cloudy at times over some areas on Tuesday.

Temperatures will rise gradually and there will be moderate to light winds across the country, according to National Centre of Metrology and Seismology's (NCMS) latest forecast.
Seas will be slight to moderate in general.

The relative humidity will increase by night and early morning over some coastal and internal areas, with a chance of fog formation.

Search and Rescue Team discuss measures

The leaders of the Emirates Team for Search and Rescue have discussed with the concerned authorities in the emirate of Fujairah ways to counter the effects of the recent heavy rains and the risks that the East Coast area may be exposed to.

These include adding to shelters and evacuation plans, the establishment of industrial drainage pits to collect rainwater and ways to provide medical care to residents of the affected areas when necessary.

The measures come under the implementation of the directives of Lt General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior.

The meeting, which was held at the headquarters of the General Command of Fujairah Police, included the participation of representatives from the General Command of the Civil Defence and the General Command of Police in Fujairah, the Eastern Region Police Department and the Department of Civil Defence in the Eastern Province.

Colonel Mohammed bin Naya, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Fujairah Police, said that the current situation and the current precautionary procedures demonstrated good coordination between the various police departments, praising the efforts of the Emirates Team for Search and Rescue in accordance with the best international standards in such circumstances and emphasised the ongoing preparations to face any emergency circumstance of rain and its consequences.

The meeting was also attended by a number of senior officials.

13 days of storms rumour

The National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) has denied rumors being circulated through social networking sites and text messages that the UAE will be hit by thunderstorms, lightning and severe rain with hailstones from Monday and for 13 days.

Social networking sites claimed they quoted a US Navy report that the UAE would be hit  by the thunderstorms, lightning and severe rains with hailstones that would cause losses in the private and public properties.

The NCMS said in a statement on Sunday evening that "This information is incorrect and baseless," calling on public not to heed rumors".
It added that the public should get correct weather information from the official weather source in the country.

UAE rescue team mobilised

The Emirates Search and Rescue Team (UAESRT) has been mobilised to the emirate of Fujairah by Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. He mobilised the team to help support Directorate General of Civil Defense in the emirate and in the east coast, due to the recent weather conditions in the country.

Heavy rain in different areas of the country caused water levels to rise in residential areas. This caused damages to private and residential properties as well as cars and other properties.

Lt. Colonel Mohammed Abdul Jalil Al Ansari, Head of the UAE Search and Rescue Team, stated that the team that was mobilized consisted of 110 people, 15 vehicles, a mobile command center and 15 tons of tools and equipment specializing in search and rescue. It was sent to the emirate of Fujairah, creating a command center that was set up in coordination with the Fujairah Police General Directorate. The mission was being carried out under the supervision of Major General Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi, Director General of Central Operations at Abu Dhabi Police GHQ.

He said: “The team will be staying in Fujairah until the weather is better, according to the instructions that we have received.” He pointed out that there has been a full field scan to evaluate the risks and determine methods of assistance.

The Security Media Department at the General Secretariat of the Office of His Highness Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, urged road-trip lovers, who are both locals and residents, to watch out for weather changes before taking trips, especially those heading towards the eastern and southern areas, as they should avoid heading towards areas where rainwater is pooling up, including valleys, natural water canals and areas submerged in water. It urged people to avoid these areas in order for them to maintain their safety.

How to stay safe

It also urged people to follow safety precautions if they were going on road trips or camping, and urged them to consider a number of factors like staying away from valley streams, in case of possible rain or flood warnings, and not risk crossing the valleys during rainfall, keeping kids away from valley streams and swamps, and staying away from low areas and valley beds. In the case of lightning, they are urged to stay away from open areas and not use radio or mobile phones in open areas.

It requested that drivers adhere to speed limits on roads, keep safe distances between vehicles, buckle seat belts, not use phones while driving, and adhere to the lanes and not change lanes suddenly.

It stressed the importance of thorough vehicle inspections, especially tires, brakes, front and back wipers, changing the motor oil and air filters, and other maintaining other parts that need changing or maintenance to prevent breakdowns and accidents. The department pointed out the importance of cooperation, and emphasized the importance of following all safety precautions.

As the UAE comes out of a weekend that saw torrential downpours and hail-storms, accompanied by shifts in temperatures and sand blowing across open areas, pictures and videos have emerged to give a clear picture of what the country endured.

 

Earlier reports

Dubai

Brigadier Omar Abdul Aziz Al Shamsi, Director, Command and Control Toom at Dubai Police said a serious traffic accident occurred due to the rain at 1.30am on Saturday, leading to a vehicle catching fire and its driver being seriously injured.

Speaking to Emarat Al Youm, he also added that the Dubai Police received a call that a mud-slide in a valley on the border of Oman near Hatta had trapped a car.

The bodies of a man and a woman were found the next day. He added that Omani authorities were investigating the incident.

Heavy rain and severe storm weather that lasted only about five minutes caused billboards to fall in Al Qusais, which resulted in a traffic jam.

Al Shamsi disclosed that the total calls received by the Dubai Police Command and Control Room operations during the period of rainfall was over 2,000.

 

Video courtesy: Hassan Fayyaz

 

A video clip of a valley in Ras Al Khaimah flooded due to the rains. (NCMS)

 Ras Al Khaimah

Heavy rain in saw homes flooded and traffic signals affected. Rains lashed the emirate which led to vehicles being damaged and Wadi Hakil flooding. Heavy rain also caused closure of the road to Wadi Al Beeh.

Citizens were forced to leave their homes, particularly in the Khouzam, Al Nakheel, Valley Koob and Azon.

Rain also caused power disruption in some areas of the emirate. Speaking to Emarat Al Youm, Ahmed Khamis Al Shumaili, one of the affected residents said that he was was sleeping when suddenly he woke up to the sound of flowing water in his house.

Abdullah Rabia’a, another Emirati affected by the rain, said his family home was affected for the second time this year as rain flooded the Valley Hakil.

Ahmad Al Hamadi, Director of the Department of Public Works and Services at Ras Al Khaimah, said they deployed 25 water tankers to draw water from the streets and 20 water pumps to draw waters from low-lying areas .

 


The rain impact was felt across the emirates – from storm streams in the mountains to flooded wadis and motorists caught unawares by a sheet of hail that hit several areas.

 

Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah

Residents of Sharjah were also caught unawares by the heavy rain which led to flooding in some areas. He added that the Government departments are coordinating and doing their best to solve this problem.

In Ajman 14 people were injured when a tent fell as the result of strong winds and torrential rains.

Salim Bin Mohammed Al Naqbi, Head of the Department of Municipalities and Agriculture Affairs said the department has provided 45 apartments in Khorfakkan, Fujairah to people affected by the rains, till their homes are repaired.

Pictures courtesy: emaratalyoum.com

Sadiq M says: “I was driving on Sheikh Zayed Road at about 9.30pm and suddenly it went from dry to pouring rain and sheets of hail.


Two large signboards crashed on a vehicle in Ajman. (Pic: Aisha)

“It was scary. Visibility went down to zero, even with the wipers at full speed.

“Luckily I did not see any accidents at the time.”

Meanwhile, the National Centre for Seismology and Meterology (NCMS) has continued with its forecast for unstable weather.

“Clouds will increase with varying intensity of rainfall especially over the northern and eastern areas, with a decrease in temperature over some areas.

Visibility was down to zero due to the hail storm: (Pic: Aisha)

“Wind will be moderate to fresh, causing blowing dust/sand to reduce horizontal visibility over open land.

“Sea will be rough over the Arabian Gulf and the sea of Oman, especially with cloud activity.”


Rain drenched streets of Dubai on Friday night: (Pic: Ajanta Paul
)