The decision was taken 'due to the impact of unstable weather conditions in the country'
The usual hot summer day turned into a rainy one as moderate to heavy rain coupled with hail and dust storm lashed several parts of UAE, including Dubai on Friday.
Also read: Full forecast for weekend
The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) recorded heavy rain over Silicon Oasis, Academic City, Nad Al Sheba and Al Warqa in Dubai, while moderate rain was experienced over Dubai-Al Ain and Khorfakkan-Sharjah roads and moderate to heavy lashed Falaj Al Mualla in Umm Al Quwain and Al Shiwayb area in Al Ain. Heavy rain and a downpour of pebble-sized hailstones followed in some parts of Dubai and the northern emirates.
Gusts of wind brought blowing dust that caught many residents who went out to enjoy the weekend unaware and it also resulted in reduced visibility on the roads as authorities issued a warning to motorists.
Among those who were caught in the surprise shift in weather was no other than Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, who posted Instagram story videos of himself inside the car as the rain and dust storm swept parts of Dubai.
The average temperature on Friday hovered between 39-46 degrees Centigrade across the UAE. According to the NCM forecast, more rain is expected to hit some parts of the country today and tomorrow afternoon while light to moderate southeasterly and northerly winds will cause blowing dust and sand during day time.
Summer is hot; hail is cold. So, how come there is hail when it's summertime?
According to meteorologists, hail during summer is actually not uncommon. They explained that the surface temperature is warm but the upper atmosphere is still cold enough to support ice.
Hail forms when strong currents of rising air, known as updrafts, carry droplets of water high enough that they freeze. A strong updraft allows hailstones to grow large enough that they do not melt by the time they fall back and reach the ground, thus becoming pebble-sized ice pellets or hailstones.
angel@khaleejtimes.com
The decision was taken 'due to the impact of unstable weather conditions in the country'
Here are the latest updates from airports and airlines as the country deals with the record rain's aftermath
The Met department has shared its forecast for the next few days: here's what to expect
On Tuesday, the country witnessed heaviest rainfall on record, surpassing anything documented since the start of data collection in 1949
Residents have been advised to remain extremely vigilant
Water logging, flooding and landslides were reported in different parts of the UAE during the first wave, which started Monday evening
Residents across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Fujairah, and Ras Al Khaimah reported rainfall of varying intensities as a low-pressure system swept across the country
These conditions are attributed to the extension of a surface low-pressure system from the southwest