In the early hours of Tuesday morning, residents across the UAE awoke to a dramatic display of nature’s fury, with hailstones blanketing backyards in the Al Ain region and relentless rain punctuated by thunder and lightning in various parts of Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, and Sharjah.
Dubai residents also witnessed streaks of lightning illuminating the night sky close to midnight, accompanied by thunder and light rain. The UAE’s National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has issued a warning of hazardous weather conditions, urging residents to brace themselves for heavy rainfall in Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, with scattered showers expected in Dubai.
This alert serves as a precautionary measure to ensure that residents are adequately prepared for potentially adverse weather conditions and are advised to avoid outdoor activities. The Met Department has emphasized the need for precautions during heavy rainfall and strong winds, which can result in low visibility and the falling of solid objects.
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Videos shared by storm.ae, the UAE’s dedicated ‘storm chasers,’ captured the intensity of hail showers in residents’ gardens and streets in Al Ain. Motorists are urged to adhere to traffic rules during the inclement weather.
In response to the unstable conditions, the Abu Dhabi Police activated temporary speed reduction systems, lowering speed limits to 80 km/h on key roads, including the Abu Dhabi – Al Ain road and Maktoum Bin Rashid road.
The Ministry of Interior has urged residents to remain vigilant and cautious. In a statement, the authority emphasized the importance of:
- Exercising caution
- Reducing speed on roads
- Avoiding water ponds and fast-moving streams
- Steering clear of the sea and beaches
The weather forecast indicates a gradual increase in cloud cover across the country, with light to moderate rainfall expected during the daytime in certain areas. Thunder and lightning are forecasted to occur intermittently, especially from midnight until midday, potentially accompanied by hail in limited areas of the eastern and northern regions.
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While the likelihood of rainfall is expected to diminish gradually by Tuesday evening, another weather situation is anticipated from Thursday late night up to Sunday, with its peak expected on Saturday. This weather pattern is forecasted to affect most parts of the country, extending from the west to the north and east. Residents are advised to stay updated on weather forecasts and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety during this period of unstable weather conditions.
