Rainy days are in store for the UAE this week. Hot on the heels of last month’s downpour, authorities expect another set of showers from Wednesday, May 1 to Friday, May 3 in the country. However, experts at UAE’s National Centre for Meteorology (NCM) have guaranteed that these Dubai rains will be mild and nothing compared to the intensity of last week’s storm and there’s no cause for concern.
Expect thunder, lightning and moderate rains in Dubai
You can expect moderate to heavy rainfall scattered across parts of the country until Thursday evening. Some Eastern regions of the UAE should brace themselves to be hit by a volley of hail. Shoaib, a town north of Al Ain experienced a hailstorm on April 28. The rest of the UAE can prepare for thunder, lightning and medium rainfall over the next three days.
A recent statement jointly issued by the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) and the Ministry of Interior on X (previously Twitter) confirms that the UAE is prepared to deal with unstable weather and has preventive measures and emergency response teams in place so that business can continue in the country as usual, albeit remotely.
Remote work and other precautionary measures
The government has announced remote work for all government institutions and the private sector on May 1 and May 2 (except essential workers). All schools, universities and educational institutions will offer remote learning on Thursday and Friday.
If there ever was a time to take a rain check on those outdoor plans, it’s now. Authorities have warned residents not to venture out into mountainous areas, the desert, the sea and other places prone to heavy rains.
To keep roads and highways safe, the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure will constantly pump out water and clear drains. Government agencies will also continuously monitor the rates of rainfall and water flow to prevent roads and dams from flooding and ensure safety in previously affected areas.
Dubai Metro’s Red Line is still not completely functional and these stations remain closed after damage from April’s bad weather.
Additionally, the NCEMA has urged residents to follow all the safety instructions and guidelines issued by relevant authorities such as the Dubai Police, RTA and special field teams employed in places still recovering from April’s record-breaking rainfalls.
What was the cause of the rains in Dubai in April?
The April showers that flooded Dubai and other parts of the UAE on April 16 were unprecedented and the worst storm the country has experienced in 75 years. In less than 24 hours, over 6 million cubic metres of rainfall drenched the emirates. For perspective, that’s the amount of rainfall the UAE receives in an entire year.
The extreme weather event that left parts of Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah submerged, damaging highways, roads, infrastructure, buildings and vehicles was not cloud seeding but the result of a natural storm that rolled over from Oman.