Flood in Dubai, hailstorm wreaks havoc in Abu Dhabi, heavy rain in UAE before PM Modi’s visit

Dubai has been in the grip of irregular weather patterns as extremely high rainfall and hailstorms have plagued its otherwise arid climate with a high evaporation rate. Dubai is now flooded after the sudden clouds poured heavily on the busy city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Government employees in Dubai have been asked to work from home until February 13, Tuesday. The UAE’s educational authority has also declared the continuation of distance learning in all government schools on February 13.

The National Center of Meteorology (NCM) also issued a red and amber alert, warning of continued wet weather.

Hail was reported in various parts of Abu Dhabi. The sudden change in weather has caught the residents of the UAE off guard.

According to the Khaleej Times, heavy rainfall was reported in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah. A report by the Gulf News on Monday said that some parts of Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah saw streams of rainwater being formed in the valleys.

The sudden downpour has triggered flood-like situations in Dubai. Cars were seen wading through flooded roads. Some other cars were trapped in standing water as drainage systems were unable to cope with the downpour.

The NCM issued an orange weather alert indicating unstable weather to continue across the UAE. According to reports, Dubai residents woke up to loud thunderclaps and lightning early on Monday morning.

This period of unstable weather is being caused as a result of “an extension of an upper air depression, accompanied by a cold air mass, and a westerly air current, with different amounts of clouds flowing over the country from the West,” according to the ncm.

Road and public service departments across the seven emirates have also issued multiple safety advisories for motorists driving in rain-affected areas. A lightning strike to the world’s tallest man-made structure, Burj Khalifa, was also witnessed.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a two-day visit to the UAE on February 13. This will be his seventh visit to the UAE since 2015 and the third in the last eight months. PM Modi will be inaugurating the BAPS temple, and address the Indian community in the UAE at an event in Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi.

The BAPS Mandir, the first traditional Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, sits on 27 acres of land that was generously gifted by the UAE leadership.