Heavy rain hits parts of the UAE

Sunday, Oct 13, 2013

Al Ain: Heavy rain on Sunday pounded parts of the UAE — giving residents some respite from the daytime heat ahead of Eid Al Adha. Forecasters expect more showers on Monday.

People in Ras Al Khaimah, central Sharjah and parts of Dubai and Al Ain said the rain helped lower the temperature and also flooded low-lying areas.

Adjacent areas in Oman received the lion’s share of the rain. Strong winds also kicked up dust and sand in Sharjah and Ajman in the afternoon, reducing visibility on the roads.

Ahmad Naseem, a resident of the Al Filli area of central Sharjah, said thick black clouds emerged from the east in the morning that quickly covered the skies. At around midday, he said, a drizzle started that was later followed by heavy rain.

“Rain is always welcome here, we enjoy it,” he said.

Heavy rain flooded wadis in Ras Al Khaimah and traffic on mountain roads remained suspended for a while as rainwater flowed down from the peaks, bringing with it mud and stones, said Saeed Rashid, an Emirati.

Residents in Al Dahid and Falaj Al Mualla experienced thunderstorms with heavy rain drenching cities in just a few minutes.

The National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) warned drivers in rain-hit areas to take extra care. Strong winds also kicked up sand and dust in some areas reducing visibility.

Meanwhile, forecasters expect relatively hot conditions during the day and mild to pleasant conditions at night during the Eid Al Adha holidays as summer comes to an end.

“The weather has changed and evenings are perfect for outdoor activities,” said a forecaster.

The NCMS forecast for the next 48 hours reports relatively hot to hazy daytime conditions with a rise in humidity at night. The weather will be partly cloudy in some areas with a chance of towering clouds in the eastern and northern emirates.

Light to moderate winds are expected in general but they could blow up dust and sand in open areas in the afternoon.

Low night-time temperatures and high humidity could lead to fog in some areas. The sea is likely to be slightly to moderately rough, said the NCMS forecast.

The maximum temperature will be 31° to 36° Celsius across much of the UAE, reaching 39°C in some inland areas.

By Aftab Kazmi ?Bureau Chief