Dubai, Mar 9 (Khaleej Times): Heavy rainfall lashed Dubai this morning, bringing down the temperatures in the country. The rainy and overcast conditions are likely to continue till Thursday Morning.
"Unstable weather is likely to persist over the country. The amount of clouds will increase over scattered areas accompanied with towering clouds and thunder," said National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS).
The department added different intensity of rain and showers shall hit different areas causing flood like conditions in eastern and northern mountain areas.
"Moderate to fresh winds, strong at times during the thunder activity, are likely. Sea is moderate in general, becoming rough at times over the Arabian Gulf and Oman Sea," NCMS stated on twitter.
There have been reports of rainfall Al Makhtoon International airport and Al Ain. Abu Dhabi also received rainfall on Tuesday, forcing the administration to shut closed for Wednesday.
Meanwhile the rainy conditions caused inconvenience to the officers goers who had to driver through wet flooded road to work. Road Transport Authority cautioned commuters to drive safe.
A Jebel Ali resident has also tweeted his building security had to pull him out of his building after water levels rose about ‘12 inches’.
Reports are also coming in of severe waterlogging in Dubai Sports City, with the Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai tweeting: “Make sure to reduce the speed during a rainy weather and watch out water pools to avoid sliding.”
Trafficdxb tweeted: “Sports City and IMPZ flooded. Roads under water.”
Dubai Police has issued an alert, saying: “Dear drivers, kindly take extra caution due to heavy rain.”
The Garden City faced the wrath of the weather as heavy rainfall lashed most of Al Ain and Abu Dhabi early Wednesday morning, resulting in waterlogging across several key roads, even as authorities issued flashflood warnings.
Abu Dhabi city and the surrounding Khalifa and Masdar City also experienced hailstorms as a low pressure system sweeps across the region, bringing rain to most of UAE, along with neighbouring Oman and Qatar.
Water levels had risen in Madinat Zayed following yesterday’s torrential rains, with cars stuck in flood-like conditions in the Western part of UAE.
The UAE's National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) has stated the low pressure system, coming from eastern Arabian Peninsula will continue to deepen on Wednesday, with its effects trailing into Thursday.
In a statement, the Met office added: "The unstable weather will continue affecting the UAE and the cloud amount will increase over scattered areas with towering and thundery clouds associated with fresh to strong winds with different intensity causing runoff valleys especially near the mountainous areas.
"The peak situation will be on Wednesday until Thursday evening."
The NCMS has further advised residents to take caution of low visibility conditions due to heavy rain at times, coupled with slippery roads.
Authorities are also advising residents of flashfloods over some areas and strong winds.
According to reports, parts of Al Ain recorded as high as 77mm, while surrounding areas recorded rainfall between 65-70mm.
Meanwhile, both Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah police authorities have put an action plan into effect for the unstable weather, which includes road closures and increased patrolling.
On Tuesday, Fujairah authorities temporarily shut Yabsa street in both directions, which could face waterlogging from rain water gushing down the mountain slopes.
Traffic delays, waterlogging in Dubai; Abu Dhabi resumes flights
Heavy traffic conditions have been reported from across the UAE following thunderstorms and corresponding waterlogging in parts of Abu Dhabi, while Dubai road face a spate of obstructions with two stalled trucks and a bus across different stretches.
Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi International Airport has resumed flights. Earlier, it had suspended flgiths on account of bad weather. "Due to severe weather conditions, flights at Abu Dhabi International Airport are suspended until further notice, for the safety of our passengers and in line with civil aviation regulations,' the airpirt said in an advisory at 12.30pm on Wednesday.
A Dubai Aiports spokesperson, meanwhile, has stated operations at Dubai International and Dubai World Central have largely remained unaffected due to the current weather conditions in the UAE, with only 'minor delays for departure flights'.
The spokesperson further added: "Dubai World Central has received two flights diverted from a neighbouring airport. Dubai Airports is working with airlines and our partners on the ground to minimise any inconvenience to our passengers."
Earlier, Dubai Police authorities took to social media platforms, warning residents of a stalled truck on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road at 7am, after Al Rashidya Bridge, towards Sharjah.
At the same time, a stalled bus was reported near the Trade Centre Tunnel Entrance, towards Dubai Mall Bridge; this had yet to clear at 8.30am.
At 7.45am, the authority said: “A stalled truck on Al Rebat Street, opposite Bel Rumaitha Club toward Business Bay; traffic congestion reported.”
According to commuters, traffic has backed up to Algeria Street and has yet to clear.
The Ministry of Interior, Abu Dhabi, has also reported heavy rains across the emirate, which has caused waterlogging in Madinat Zayed, Masdar City and Khalifa City, along with the garden city of Al Ain.
The authority has urged motorists to drive cautiously.
Abu Dhabi Airports has further stated: “Due to severe weather conditions across the UAE Air Expo 2016 is cancelled for the rest of today. An update on tomorrow's schedule will be issued later.”
All Abu Dhabi, some Dubai and Sharjah schools closed
The Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec) has announced suspension of classes at all schools in the emirate, including Al Ain, on Wednesday, March 9, due to weather conditions and to ensure safety of students.
The announcement was made by Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Director-General of Adec, who attributed the decision to the effects of the low pressure, currently experienced in the UAE and as a measure to ensure students' safety.
Meanwhile, some private schools in Dubai have informed their parent community of early shut down due to the bad weather.
Star International school in Al Twar, Kings school Al Barsha and Jebel Ali School have sent out messages about early closure.
Dubai British School, Oasis School, Dubai English Speaking School (Oud Mehta), Dubai English Speaking School (DIAC), Al Salam Private School, Jebel Ali Primary School (both branches), Star International School-Mirdif and Star international School-Al Twar have announced early closure.
“Due to the bad weather, the school is closing at 12noon. School buses will leave at 12noon,” reads the advisory from Star International. The school advised parents who pick up their children to be at the school at the same time.
Kings Nad Al Sheba issued a note to parents, stating, “The roads around the school are beginning to get very bad please could you come and pick your child up as soon as possible”.
Gems Wellington International School in Al Sufouh, Gems Metropole in Motor City, Dubai English Speaking School (DESS) and Dubai English Speaking College (DESC) have also announced school closures.
In a series of tweets, DESS said: “Urgent Notice: The weather is not improving and the roads are getting worse. Safety of students and staff is our prime concern. Therefore we will be closing both DESS and DESC.”
Some schools are letting parents pick up their children early if they wish to. Emirates International School-Meadows, in a circular to the parents, said: “If you wish to collect your child/ren from school early, or any time in the school day so to avoid road congestion or unsafe driving conditions then you are free to do so.”
Dubai American Academy also issued a note that the school will remain functional today, but if parents wish to take their children home early they could do so.
Gems Jumeriah Primary School will close at usual time, but a note to parents says all after-school activities will remain cancelled today, and children can be picked up at 2.15pm.
KHDA had issued a statement on Wednesday that the decision to close schools will lie with the parents.
Amal Belhasa, Chief of Compliance & Resolution Commission at Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), said, “Schools can decide to close early in response to weather conditions and other operational issues prevailing on a particular day. KHDA trusts schools to make up for lost time and lessons in the subsequent days or weeks.”
Parents have advised to check with their child’s schools about the timings for today.
Meanwhile, some Sharjah schools have also announced early closure.
Australian International School Sharjah and Delhi Private School Sharjah have announced their decision. DPS asked parents to pick their children up at 11.30am.
In a tweet, AIS said, “Due to the current weather conditions we will finish school at 1 pm today to allow students to travel home safely.”
UAE schools to be closed on Thursday
All government and private schools are to be closed on Thursday, the Ministry of Education said in a statement.
"Hussein Al Hamadi, the Minister of Education, issued a decision to provisionally suspend the official working hours on Thursday of all government and private schools in the state," the statement read.
"The decision comes due to weather conditions, and to ensure the safety of students. Students will come back on next Sunday."
Qatar
People on the roads have been advised to proceed with caution this morning as heavy rains and thunderstorms make their way across Qatar.
Residents should expect some flooding today due to the downpour, but it shouldn’t be as bad as the storms that gridlocked the country in November, said Steff Gaulter, senior meteorologist for Al Jazeera English.
Speaking to Doha News, she said: “This heavy rain is temporary and will clear soon, then off and on showers . But in the afternoon should clear (up).”
She added that tomorrow is forecast to be sunny.
That said, some people have opted to keep their kids home from school today due to the lightning and thunder, and the congestion on roads caused by accidents.
Oman
Heavy rain in many parts of Sultanate
Heavy rain lashed Buraimi, Mussandam and North AL Batinah, Oman meteorology has tweeted on it official twitter handle.
Saeed Al Sarmi, the Head of the Research Centre from Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA), an hour ago had tweeted that it will rain heavily in Buraimi, Mussandam and North AL Batinah.
The Ministry of Education has decided to close all the schools in Oman on Thursday except for those in the Al Wusta and Dhofar regions due to heavy rain forecast.
Rain-related deaths reached three as one more person was killed after being struck by lightning bolt in Mudhaibi, according to the police.
“Since Sunday, three people have lost their lives. Two died in Mudhaibi and one lost his life in Rustaq,” the police said in a statement.
With Inputs from Emirates 24|7, Doha News and Times of Oman