Rains back with a bang; wet weather to continue

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Rains back with a bang; wet weather to continue

The temperatures are expected to stay low, fluctuating between a maximum of 20-22 degree Celsius and a minimum of 13-15 degree Celsius.

By Kt Report

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Published: Wed 21 Jan 2015, 1:28 AM

Last updated: Fri 26 Jun 2015, 12:25 AM

Hailstorm in Abu Dhabi. -Wam

Heavy rains, thunderstorms and hailstorms lashed the country on Monday and the Met office has said that the wet weather will continue today. According to a spokesperson at the National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS), thunderstorms and heavy rains were recorded across the country at various intensities on Monday. With strong winds moving at a high of 65kmph (hail) in certain regions, the NCMS has warned residents to be cautious. Motorists have been warned to exercise caution.

The lowest temperature recorded on Monday was a record at 4.8 degree Celsius at 7.45am in Jebal Jais, Ras Al Khaimah. The temperatures are expected to stay low, fluctuating between a maximum of 20-22 degree Celsius and a minimum of 13-15 degree Celsius, in the internal areas today.

“The intensity of rain is also causing floods in (some) parts of the country,” added the spokesperson.

Abu Dhabi

The NCMS said Samha, Ajban, outskirts of Suweihan and Al Taweelah areas in Abu Dhabi witnessed hailstorms. Some areas were blanketed with hail, leading some to conclude erroneously that it had snowed.  The NCMS advised motorists to be extra cautious on the road due to poor visibility due to possible fog formation over some coastal areas.

Flooded road in Dubai. -KT photo by Shihab

Dubai

Director of the Drainage and Irrigation Department of the Dubai Municipality Taleb Abdul Kareem Julfar told Khaleej Times that the civic body is well-prepared to handle rains. “We have connected some newly developed areas in Rashidiya to the network. So there will be less puddling over there,” said Julfar, who also heads the emirate’s Rain Committee.

Special teams from the departments of Sewage and Irrigation Network and Waste Management are involved in emergency services during the downpour. Members of the technical, supervisory and administrative wings are activated to tackle rain-related emergencies. Julfar said the municipality has extended the working hours of those involved in rain operations by four hours.

Traffic jam in Sharjah. -KT photo by M. Sajjad

Sharjah/Ajman

The authorities concerned in Sharjah and Ajman consolidated efforts to tackle emergency cases and water-logging. Since the rainy weather is expected to continue, the police and municipalities of the two emirates are coordinating to meet weather-related challenges.

Children enjoying rain in Ajman. -KT photo by Shoaib Anwar

Ahmed bin Darwish, Deputy Head of Patrol and Traffic at the Sharjah Police, said: “There is no massive congestion on the roads, just the usual jams during peak hours. No serious accidents were reported from the emirate.”

Yahya Al Reyasa, Director-General of the Ajman Municipality, said: “In addition to installing pumping units in different parts of Ajman, the municipality dug 16 wells, set up 300 temporary pools to collect water from surrounding areas and kept 60 mobile tankers on standby.”

Traffic snarls and water logging

Traffic accidents, some of them major, were reported on Twitter handle @TrafficDxb on Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid road, Shaikh Zayed road, Maliha road and Al Ittihad road on Monday.

Water-logging was reported from several parts of the country. Authorities have already deployed emergency crew on water-clogged streets and have warned residents of flash floods in mountainous areas and wadis over the next 24 hours. Transport authorities like the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai have issued warnings to drivers to maintain “double the safe distance” between vehicles while driving.

news@khaleejtimes.com

(Nissar Hoath, Afkar Abdullah, Sajila Saseendran and Dhanusha Gokulan contributed to this report)


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