Dubai is grappling with irregular weather patterns, experiencing exceptionally high rainfall and hailstorms that defy its typical arid climate with a high evaporation rate. The sudden deluge has resulted in widespread flooding across the city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
As a response to the weather conditions, government employees in Dubai have been instructed to work from home until Tuesday, February 13. The UAE’s educational authority has also declared the continuation of distance learning in all government schools on the same day. The National Center of Meteorology (NCM) has issued red and amber alerts, cautioning residents about the persistence of wet weather.
Hailstorms have been reported in various parts of Abu Dhabi, surprising the residents of the UAE with this abrupt change in weather. Heavy rainfall has affected not only Dubai but also other areas, including Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, where streams of rainwater have formed in the valleys.
The intense downpour has led to flood-like situations in Dubai, with cars navigating through flooded roads and some vehicles stranded in standing water due to overwhelmed drainage systems.
The NCM has issued an orange weather alert, indicating that unstable weather conditions are expected to persist across the UAE. Reports suggest that residents in Dubai were awakened by loud thunderclaps and lightning early on Monday morning.
The weather anomalies are attributed to “an extension of an upper air depression, accompanied by a cold air mass, and a westerly air current, with different amounts of clouds flowing over the country from the West,” according to the NCM.
To ensure public safety, road and public service departments in all seven emirates have issued multiple safety advisories for motorists navigating rain-affected areas. Additionally, a lightning strike was observed at the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest man-made structure.
Despite the challenging weather conditions, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to embark on a two-day visit to the UAE on February 13. This visit marks his seventh since 2015 and the third in the last eight months. During his visit, PM Modi will inaugurate the BAPS temple, the first traditional Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, situated on 27 acres of land generously gifted by the UAE leadership. He will also address the Indian community in the UAE at an event in Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi.