Thunder rumbling non-stop and lightning streaking through the skies wake UAE residents as heavy rainfall batters the country late Monday night into Tuesday morning.
Unstable weather conditions will continue to impact the UAE from Monday through Wednesday due to an extension of a “low surface pressure” and two waves of unstable weather to move across the country on Tuesday, the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has announced.
As the inclement weather peaks on Tuesday, April 16, Khaleej Times brings you all the latest updates from across the UAE.
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Latest update
2.27pm: Road closure due to landslide
An entire section of a road in the Shawka area on the Maliha-Kalba Road has caved in, posing significant danger to motorists. Ras Al Khaimah Police alerted drivers about the temporary closure and warned them of water accumulation.
The road will remain closed until authorities address the issue and restore normal traffic flow.
Watch the video below:
1.40pm: Umm Al Quwain road closure
Due to the weather conditions in the area and the heavy rainfall, the following exits have been closed on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Street in Umm Al Quwain — (Exit 93 – Exit 96 – Exit 110 – Exit 113).
Some internal roads in the Emirate were also closed due to the accumulation of rainwater.
1.37pm: Road closure towards Jebel Ali
Dubai’s RTA asked motorists using Al Asayel and First Al Khail Streets coming from the Business Bay area towards Jebel Ali to use alternative roads such as Al Khail Street and Sheikh Zayed Road.
Photo: Rahul Gajjar
1.23pm: Tram services affected
Due to continuous rain and inclement weather conditions, Dubai Tram service has been disrupted between stations 1 and 8. Commuters have been requested to use bus service provided by RTA between the affected stations.
1.15pm: Ring road in Kalba closed
The Sharjah Police announced the temporary closure of the ring road in Kalba due to the accumulation of rainwater and the overflowing valley. Motorists have been asked to use alternative routes.
1.11pm: Al Ain house flooded
Residents in an apartment building in Al Ain’s Al Qattarah area grappled on Tuesday as water gushed into their home from all directions. The water levels rose above ankle level, flooding the entire flat. In the short clip, water could be seen pouring through the bathroom window of a ground-floor apartment.
Watch the video below how the maintenance providers struggled to control the flowing water.
1.05pm: Global Village closed
Global Village announced that the family entertainment destination will remain closed on April 16 due to adverse weather conditions and to ensure the safety of guests.
1.04pm: Some areas witnessing heavy rain
Ministry of Interior announced that some areas of the country are witnessing a depression accompanied by heavy rain with a chance of hail. Residents are asked to adhere to safety measures to preserve lives and property, avoid valley areas, water accumulation and torrent flow, exercise caution while driving vehicles, reduce speed and comply with the instructions of the competent authorities.
Photo: Shihab
1.01pm: Delays at Airport Road
Dubai RTA cautioned motorists of delays expected on Airport Road. Passengers departing from Dubai International Airport have been advised to use the Dubai Metro and alternative routes such as Marrakesh Street and Rabat Street to reach easily.
12.52pm: Football matches postponed
The UAE Football Association has made the decision to postpone all matches scheduled for Tuesday, April 16, across all local football competitions. This move comes in response to the prevailing weather conditions and fluctuations experienced across the country.
12.35pm: Temporary closure of the entrance to the Kuwaiti market
Ras Al Khaimah Police announced the temporary closure of the entrance to the Kuwaiti market due to water accumulation as a result of the tropical situation in the emirate. Until water withdrawal operations are completed by the concerned authorities
12.32pm: Dubai’s crowning glory
All is not gloom and doom; there’s a silver lining standing tall: Dubai’s crowning glory, the iconic Burj Khalifa, showcasing its majestic silhouette against the backdrop of the rain.
View from Al Asayel St, Dubai. KT Photo: Rahul Gujjar
12pm: New wave of unstable weather conditions to begin
Unstable weather, including heavy rain, thunder, lightning, and potential hail, will sweep across the UAE starting Tuesday afternoon, as part of the second wave. The new wave that starts later this afternoon would also witness an increase in convective cloud coverage, leading to varying intensities of rainfall.
The National Centre of Meteorology on Tuesday said that the first wave of unstable weather conditions prevailed from Monday evening to Tuesday noon.
Photo by Shihab
11.41am: Flight disruptions
Flight operations at Dubai International Airport (DXB) were disrupted due to inclement weather on Tuesday, resulting in cancellations, delays and diversion of flights. Dubai Airports confirmed that 17 inbound and outbound flights were impacted on Tuesday due to the bad weather.
11.40am: Road heading towards Al Khan Junctions blocked
A police vehicle blocks the road heading towards Al Khan Junctions in Al Majaz, Sharjah, due to water accumulation after the heavy rains that began on Tuesday morning. The rain continued till Tuesday noon, prompting police to issue an advisory for motorists to take precautionary measures and drive safely during the rain. Reports: Waheed Abbas
11.30am: Minimal traffic for office goers
Sharjah resident, Asim M expressed his relief to KT reporter Nandiini Sircar and said, “I commuted from Al Nahda Sharjah to my workplace in Dubai today. It was a pleasant surprise to find minimal traffic, allowing me to reach the office faster than usual. Normally, the journey takes an hour due to congestion, but today I made it in just thirty minutes. Despite waterlogging, the roads were surprisingly clear, thanks to all schools implementing remote learning and most companies adopting work-from-home policies.”
He added, “The government’s decision to implement distance learning and encourage remote work has been beneficial. Although I encountered heavy water logging around the Al Garhoud and Al Nahda areas, the situation remains manageable due to the government’s and private companies’ proactive measures. Due to this, people venturing out for urgent matters can still reach their destinations on time.”
11.15am: Submerged cars and signposts
Several roads in Dubai have been flooded, with some vehicles spotted broken down on waterlogged streets.
Photo: Shihab
Motorists were seen navigating through heavy rains using their windshield wipers, turning on headlights, and ensuring adequate distances in the waterlogged areas. They have also reported challenges with fogging inside the cars, reducing visibility in these rainy conditions. Watch the video below by Dubai resident Favas Thaniyeppil.
11.05am: Residents struggle with building leaks
Residents are at their wit’s end as they struggle with leakage at home and structural issues, reports KT journalist Nandini Sircar.
French resident Christine Quartier La Tente said, “Residents like me at Damac Hills 2 are facing multiple problems due to the heavy rainfall. We have to seal the windows and waterproof our roofs despite some new leaks being detected each time it rains. I think it is also due to structural issues with these buildings. One needs to identify these and fix them constantly. It takes many rains to check it all and repair it.”
10.50am: Expect delay in bus services
The RTA has issued a statement informing commuters of expected delays and cancellations of some trips across all public bus services due to rainy weather conditions.
Photo: Muhammad Sajjad.
10.46am: “Stay home”, says NCEMA
Residents have been asked to stay home and follow all safety guidelines. The National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority emphasised the importance of staying at home and urged residents to leave in cases of extreme necessity.
The authority advised residents to park vehicles in distant, safe, and elevated locations away from areas prone to flooding, streams, and water accumulation.
Photo: Shihab
10.40am: Temporary road closure
The Ras Al Khaimah Police said it has temporarily closed Exit 129 bridge until the competent authorities remove the accumulated water due to the tropical situation in the emirate, and road users must take the alternative route.
10.32am: Hazardous weather conditions
The National Centre of Meteorology alerted residents of hazardous weather conditions across the country.
10.25am: Food delivery services paused
Delivery companies in the UAE have paused services in some areas as thunderstorms, heavy rains and hail pounded the Emirates Tuesday. In areas where deliveries are continuing, customers have been told to expect delays.
Weather conditions also impacted grocery service delivery.
Photo: Thanweeruddin Mohammad
10.17am: Onpassive metro station flooded
The Onpassive metro station was flooded on Tuesday morning, disrupting services. RTA announced a disruption in metro service at the Onpassive station. Dubai Metro red line users are alerted that an alternative bus service had been provided between the affected stations.
Onpassive metro station. Photo: KT reader
Watch the scene outside the Onpassive Metro station in the video below:
9.50am: Road caves in to turn into waterfall
A gigantic crater-like landslide in Al Qua, south of Al Ain, has taken with it a massive portion of the road, changing the course for drivers in the area. The road resembles a waterfall due to heavy rains and overflowing wadis.
Motorists could be seen making cautious call and turning away from the site. A video posted by Storm_ae shows a car being swept away in the landslide, which resembles a river.
9.40am: Temporary closure of driver’s licensing centre
Ajman Police temporarily closed the driver’s licensing centre for two days due to weather conditions. The closure is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, April 16 and 17. However, it should be noted that the vehicle inspection and registration centres, Speed and Fast, will continue their operations as usual.
9.33am: Inundated streets in Sharjah
Several streets in Sharjah have been flooded due to heavy rains late Monday night and early Tuesday morning. Motorists and residents were seen wading through waterlogged streets, as seen in the video captured by KT video journalist Muhammad Sajjad.
9.30am: Landslide in Ras Al Khaimah
A section of the road heading towards Emirates Road in Ras Al Khaimah collapsed due to a landslide after the onslaught of heavy rains in the Emirates. The Ras Al Khaimah Police has cordoned off that part of the road and urged motorists to pay attention and reduce speed.
Avoid rain-related fines
Authorities in the UAE reminded motorists to drive safely and warned of stiffer penalties for traffic violations that pose a risk to lives during rains and adverse weather conditions. UAE has strict rules regarding 10 weather-related traffic violations that come with fines of up to Dh2,000, 23 black points and confiscation of vehicles for two months.
9.10am: Dubai Police issues driver safety tips
With the ongoing rainfall Dubai Police has issued essential safety guidelines for road users during these weather conditions. The authority urged drivers to follow the below traffic tips:
- Use low-beam headlights for visibility
- Ensure brakes are functioning properly after passing through water puddles
- Avoid wadis (valleys) during rainfall
- Ensure the safety of glass surfaces
- Reduce speed and stay away from road edges
- Use the external air circulation feature to prevent fog formation
Recovery trucks at work Photo: Syed Ayaz Basha
9.07am: Dubai Parks and Resorts closure
Due to adverse weather conditions and in order to assure the safety of parkgoers, the Dubai Parks and Resorts announced the closure of the amusement park for the day, April 16.
9.01am: Pouring in Al Furjan
A resident in Al Furjan, Dubai, reported heavy rains and thunderstorms, resulting in decreased visibility. She also witnessed a considerable absence of vehicles on the streets.
Photo: Waad Barakat
Photo: Waad Barakat
8:59am: Remote class begins
Students started accessing their Teams classrooms on Tuesday as the UAE announced remote education across the country. At the beginning of the day, they mark their attendance as usual.
Meanwhile, primary class students are participating in asynchronous sessions and are requested to submit their tasks through the designated school app.
Photo: Nandini Sircar
8.50am: As dark as night
Residents in Al Faya/Seih Shuaib said the early-morning clear sky quickly transitioned into one as dark as night as continuous thunder and lightning accompanied the relentless pounding of rain.
8.40am: Reduced visibility
Residents in Al Nahda, Sharjah and Abu Hail, Dubai, reported a decrease in visibility in some areas, as the heavy downpour persisted, engulfing the region.
Abu Hail, Dubai
Photo: Syed Ayaz Basha
8.30am: Employees face heavy rains
Several residents braved the morning rains on their morning commute to reach the office even as the UAE announced remote work for public sector employees.
Under the directives of the Council of Ministers, govt employees will observe remote work on Tuesday, April 16. Certain federal employees have been exempted whose jobs require presence at the workplace, taking into account the weather condition that the country is going through.
Photo: Syed Ayaz Basha
Photo: Syed Ayaz Basha
8am: Metro timing extended
For Dubai Metro commuters, the Road and Transport Authority has extended the operating hours April 16 until 3:00 AM (next day). This extension is to ease your trips during rainy conditions.
Read the full article here