Video: Hail, rain, thunder, lightning in some parts of Dubai, Al Ain, and Masafi, partly cloudy weather across the UAE
Dubai Police, RTA, and NCM have issued safety alerts for motorists driving in the rain
Dubai: It's the perfect time to sit back and enjoy a cup of steaming hot karak or some Mumbai Masala Chai and your favourite rainy weather snack in Dubai today. Many parts of the emirate saw cloudy skies and rainfall on Tuesday. Hail was reported in Lehbab in Dubai and some parts of Sharjah by afternoon.
The Met Office confirmed to Gulf News that light to moderate rainfall is expected across northern and eastern parts of the UAE all day.
Speaking to Gulf News, a senior NCM official said: "Partly cloudy skies and light to moderate rainfall is expected in Al Ain, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah throughout the day. Rainfall will be heavy at times in some areas with lightning and thunder."
By 12 noon, heavy rain had been reported in parts of Dubai, Al Ain, and Fujairah.
The NCM official explained that two low pressure systems, "one on the surface and the other an upper trough", were causing the rainy weather.
"The low pressure system is expected to deepen, causing more rainfall today," the official said.
In Photos: Rain in UAE on March 21, 2023
The weather system resulted in the formation of convective clouds over the UAE, which the NCM's Cloud Seeding Division is monitoring for cloud seeding operations, to maximise rainfall over the country.
"So far, five cloud seeding flights have been dispatched, we will be sending more flights depending on the formation of clouds," another official from NCM's Cloud Seeding Division, told Gulf News.
The NCM also shared a weather map with yellow and orange alerts, indicating areas where the clouds had developed.
On Tuesday afternoon, Dubai Police sent out a phone alert to resident that read: "Dubai city is experiencing adveresse weather conditions. Stay clear of beaches and areas prone to flash floods. Drive with care and heed the advice of authorities. Stay safe (Dubai Police)."
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai also issued a safety alert for motorists, to maintain caution while driving on roads in the rain, to avoid road hazards.
The National Center of Meteorology's alert warned people to stay away from low-lying areas and valleys (wadis), in the northern and eastern regions, prone to flash flooding.
According to the NCM, moderate to strong winds at times will kick up dust in most parts of the country, causing dust storms at times.
The NCM official added that lesser rainfall is expected on Wednesday. "It will rain in the far northern areas like Ras Al Khaimah, on Wdnesday," he said.