Thunderstorms hit many parts of country

Dubai: The skies turned a metal grey yesterday as a thunderstorm hit Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah and heavy rains lashed Jebel Ali, according to the Met office here.

The rains washed out a couple of events over the weekend and others had to be shifted indoors hastily.

Abu Dhabi and Umm Al Quwain also recorded heavy rains early yesterday resulting in flooding of streets, residents said. In Umm Al Quwain the low lands were flooded by the thundershowers.

The rain recorded in Dubai was not very significant with only 0.6mm of precipitation and since there was no downdraft, visibility was fine at 8km to 10km, the met office said. But despite the puddles in the streets motorists whizzed by, drenching some pedestrians.

A dust haze developed over Al Ain as winds of 14 to 15 knots reduced visibility to 4,000 metres.

The low pressure front which built up over Saudi Arabia has now passed over the UAE and is heading towards Oman, Iran and the sub-continent, Dr S.K. Gupta, duty forecaster, said.

The days are becoming warm and Dubai recorded 27 degrees Celsius yesterday, according to the forecaster.

He expects it will be partly cloudy in Dubai early today and becoming brighter as the day progresses.

Monday onwards there will be a change in temperature again as shamal winds will make the area cooler with a maximum of 23 degrees Celsius.