Torrential rain lashes large parts of Abu Dhabi, Dubai in UAE

Heavy rainfall has lashed large parts of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, as well as northern emirates, Gulf News reported on Friday.

As per the UAE’s National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), “unstable conditions driven by a low-pressure system have brought repeated waves of rain, strong winds, and thunderstorms across the country”.

Gulf News said that flashes of “lightning, booming thunder, and heavy downpours” were reported by residents in major cities across the Gulf state, from Thursday night into Friday early morning.

The unstable weather also brought “thunderstorms, dust-raising winds, and reduced visibility”. Heavy rainfall also flooded the streets in some locations, according to the report.

In Sharjah, heavy rain caused wadis to flow, “temporarily disrupting traffic on roads”. According to Gulf News, residents said the “skies put on a full-blown light-and-sound show — booming thunderclaps and electric streaks of lightning flashing overhead, all at the height of raging storm clouds that dumped sheets of rain across a vast stretch of the area”.

UAE’s Fujairah was among the “hardest hit”.

As per the report, the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) has advised the public to avoid unnecessary outdoor activity and “stay away from billboards, unstable trees and loose objects during periods of strong winds”.

According to NCM, the rainfall is to continue into Friday with “convective clouds moving across Al Dhafra and the northern emirates”.

Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum shared a visual of a lightning strike over the Burj Al Arab.

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Citing data from the NCM, Gulf News added that the highest amount of rain was reported in Shoukah, Ras Al Khaimah, where precipitation reached 77.5millimetres — the heaviest in the country during this weather event.

Kalba in Sharjah ranked second with 65.8mm, followed by Umm Al Gaf in Ras Al Khaimah with 60.6mm.

On Wednesday, the Washington Post had reported that a Tornado Alley-style storm system was about to hit the Middle East — a virtually unheard of atmospheric setup for the region.

Parts of the Arabian Peninsula and Persian Gulf could be slammed by strong to severe thunderstorms, bringing the potential for damaging winds, destructive hail and a few tornadoes, The Post said.