Dubai: Residents reported heavy rain, accompanied by hail, in parts of Sharjah and Al Ain on Monday afternoon as the rest of the country sizzled in the summer heat.

Al Maliha in central Sharjah and Masaken in Al Ain received heavy showers on Monday afternoon, according to the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS).

“This is the effect of the extension of low pressure coming from the east in the surface and upper layer of air. These clouds developing near the mountains, to the east of the UAE, are convective clouds and they are moving gradually towards the Maliha, Al Ain and Al Dhaid, and Al Faqa areas,” a forecaster from NCMS told Gulf News.

Light to heavy rain clouds were spotted in areas between Margham and Al Madam and in areas surrounding Al Faqa, based on satellite monitoring by NCMS, as of 3.40pm Monday. Al Buraimi, near the border with Oman, showed clouds that carry very light showers.

Some residents posted videos of rain with hail in Maliha, while others said the downpour was so heavy on Dubai-Al Ain Road that they had to stop their cars car due to poor visibility.

“Hail can be expected when there are convective clouds. I cannot say this is normal or not normal. But this has happened many times before. If you have convective clouds, there are chances of rain, sometimes accompanied by hail,” the forecaster said.

The maximum recorded rainfall as of 3.30pm was 10mm at Khatam Al Shakla, near the border with Oman.

The forecaster said that the rain clouds would continue to give different intensities of rain for the next two hours.

Motorists are urged to drive with caution, as heavy to strong winds could blow up sand and dust.

Similar conditions may prevail over the country on Tuesday.