Rain, 60kmph winds uproot trees, poles in UAE

Ras Al Khaimah - Police authorities took to social media to warn motorists to reduce speed, especially on highways.

Heavy rains and winds with speeds up to 60kmph kicked up dust across the UAE on Tuesday. Temperatures dipped as rains lashed the country. Mountainous areas received particularly heavy rainfall, leaving some valleys flooded. The Ras Al Khaimah Police have urged residents to avoid the valleys and other flooded areas.

The National Centre for Metrology (NCMS) said: "Showers were reported in Al Jazirat Al Hamra in Ras Al Khaimah, Khor Dubai, Al Aweer, Al Dhafra and Al Shawamekh areas."

Police authorities took to social media to warn motorists to reduce speed as several highways -- including Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Yas roads -- received varying intensities of rainfall.

Cloudy weather persisted in the morning, with "rough to very rough" seas. The amount of clouds decreased gradually by afternoon, the NCM added. "Fresh to strong northwesterly winds, especially over the sea, caused blowing dust and sand over exposed areas, with a significant drop in temperatures."

The Abu Dhabi Police warned drivers against speeding and urged them to be "extra cautious" on the slippery roads. "Reduce speed, do not use hazard lights unless there is an emergency situation and keep using the wipers whenever needed."

Uprooted trees, poles

Mustafa Salem, an Emirati, told Khaleej Times that strong winds in Ras Al Khaimah uprooted palm trees and wooden poles in some places.

Ahmed Al Shehi, an adviser to the department of public works, RAK, said they attended to four reports of flooded houses. "Emergency teams were immediately dispatched to the reported houses, and the accumulated rainwater drained out," he said.

Mohammed Al Arabi, an Egyptian resident, said ponds of rainwater blocked some roads in Ras Al Khaimah. "I decided not to send my kids go to school."

Wafaa Saqr, a Syrian resident, said she did not send her kids to school in Ajman either "due to the dusty and unstable weather".

Temperatures set to rise this week in UAE

While heavy rains caused a significant dip in temperatures across the UAE on Tuesday, the mercury is set to rise this week, the National Centre for Metrology (NCMS) has forecast. "Partly cloudy to cloudy" conditions will persist through the week, with a probability of fog or mist formation.

On Thursday, temperatures will "tend to increase slightly", with "humid weather by night and early morning over some internal areas", according to the NCM.

On Friday, the weather will be "partly cloudy to cloudy at times", with another increase in temperature forecast.

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com