UAE | Environment

More rain and thunderstorms lash UAE

More rain and thunderstorms hit UAE on Monday afternoon after a deep low pressure over Rub Al Khali (Empty Quarter) whipped up a dust storm over the UAE earlier in the day.

  • By Aftab Kazmi, Bureau Chief
  • Published: 10:31 March 30, 2009
  • Gulf News

  • There has been extensive damage in parts of Al Ain and the civic administration has been working to clear drainage systems and roads.
  • Image Credit: Vazhisojan/Gulf News
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Al Ain: Strong winds have swept across Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, and surrounding areas.

With winds blowing at speeds of more than 70km/h, visibility was poor in Al Ain on Monday. Mohammad Nafis, an expatriate, said it was almost blinding and his van was shaking in the wind.

Click here to watch video of the weekend's storms

"It was hard to steer and the traffic was literally crawling on the road."

Abu Dhabi had light rain in the morning. Dubai was hit by rain and wind.

According to the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) forecast, it will be cloudy with a chance of more rain in the next 24 hours. There will also be gusty winds.

Conditions could be particularly windy in interior and open areas. The sea will continue to be rough. Yesterday the maximum temperature was 27C in Abu Dhabi, followed by 26C in Al Ain, Dubai, Sharjah, and other cities.

The unsettled weather has been battering the UAE. Weathermen, however, expect the weather to improve from this afternoon.

There has been extensive damage in parts of Al Ain and the civic administration has been working frantically to clear drainage systems and roads. A Municipality official said over 5,000 trees had been damaged.

Health tips: Avoid smog and smoke

- Avoid close contact with people who have colds or the flu.
- Avoid exposure to smog and other air pollutants, including second-hand smoke.
- When you have an infection, get it treated promptly. Drink lots of fluids and eat hot meals.
- Wear protective clothing especially at night.
- Avoid outings on a windy day. Maintain personal hygiene.
- For sinus problems, steam inhalation is ideal.

Compiled by Dina El Shammaa, Staff Reporter

Has your area been affected by the rain? Was the problem taken care of? Do you have any pictures of the rain? Tell us your experiences and send us your pictures.


Your comments


People really need enjoy the rains then complaining about the clogging, Rain in UAE is worth a million dollar Raffle, i am loving every moment of this, Motorist drive safely.
Harold
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 31, 2009, 14:12

Yesterday I really had to suffer a lot because of the rain. Suddenly all the taxi drivers escaped from the scene. Had to walk in the rain. By the time I got back home I was all wet from top to bottom. Nevertheless such rain before upcoming summers is pleasant to experience because we gonna miss this for rest of the year
Zain Haris
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 31, 2009, 13:43

It's a nice feeling being under the rain because it reminds me of my hometown. Rain gives a nice weather in a Middle East wherein temperature is really hot during summer. Luckily, Abu Dhabi's drainage system is a bit good. Flood is not a problem in most streets and it's not getting higher.
Lanny Babista
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: March 31, 2009, 13:34

We must be thankful for the beautiful weather in UAE, i wish it would continue, but we must drive cafefully at a slow speed, so we can save others and our life.
Naeem Sajid
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: March 31, 2009, 12:50

The road constructors should seriously start working on a proper drainage system. This country does not receive heavy rains but is getting more rain than expected, This is for the long run therefore sort out the drainage system too!
Mbuya
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 31, 2009, 12:43

Rain rain come again. You remind me of my home country. Thank God for the showers in the UAE.
Susan
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: March 31, 2009, 12:28

I am living in Sharjah and working in Dubai. I'm struggling in the rain to attend my office, road is filled with water still not yet cleared but I really enjoy rainy weather, it reminds me of my childhood in my home country
Rafi Ahmad
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 31, 2009, 12:26

The UAE has to come up with more facilities to drain out the water. At the same time the effort taken by the authorities are very much appreciated.
Rejeesh
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: March 31, 2009, 12:01

I love the rain, it brought back the memories of the past, all those sweet and romantic stuff that made me smile.
Sherwin
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 31, 2009, 11:36

We live in Dubai and have been struggling with a very leaky ceiling in our apartment. We are hoping the weather improves now, since the problem has yet to be fixed by the developer. Apart from that issue, I always enjoy the rainy weather, it reminds me of winter at home.
Heidi
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 31, 2009, 09:30

Road is filled with water but not cleared still. It is really polluting the environment. The water stinks
Shalini Rajan
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: March 31, 2009, 08:29

Rain is a beautiful phenomenon of nature and every one of us must welcome the showers. Some inconveniences like traffic congestions, water logging, etc. are caused due to the rain but it doesn't rain often in the UAE and the problems are not insurmountable. When we live in a country we must accept the good and the bad and not keep on complaining. Maybe the Gulf regions are not fully equipped to handle the problems caused by heavy rains. But given time surely solutions for the problems will be sought. And we have to remember that rains are not showered by the authorities and are a natural occurrence. So, enjoying the showers and the climate would be the best option considering the heat and rising temperatures we are going to face in the coming months.
Naina Nair
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: March 31, 2009, 08:10

Drivers, please listen to weather updates frequently on the radio. This can prevent chances of making accidents.
Sabin Sathyapalan
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: March 31, 2009, 08:09

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