Thunderstorm hits UAE

Lightning and thunderstorms lashed vrious regions of the Abu Dhabi Emirate on Saturday evening after hazy and cloudy weather brought in by powerful winds enveloped the UAE.

According to reports reaching from the Western Region to Al Ain and Ghantoot, there were sandstorms along with heavy showers. Abu Dhabi city (picture above) witnessed heavy rains that flooded some streets for the first time in a year. Gusty winds, followed by a downpour, shook up windows and signboards in Sharjah violently, knocking off power connections in some areas of A Nahda. Bolts of lightning struck several parts of Dubai, too. Reports from Al Ain, Al Khazna, Al Khatem, the Liwa Oasis, Baniyas, Ruwais and Ghantoot suggest there could be heavy rains in the next couple of days. - KT photo by Syed Hameeduddin Quadri

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Sandstorm, lightning and rain hit UAE

It was almost a scene out of Tom Cruise's Mission Impossible 4 in Dubai on Saturday night. A major sandstorm covered several areas of Dubai and Abu Dhabi with some areas of Dubai even facing power outages.

A weather bulletin on weather.com recorded high wind speeds of 44 mph, possibly some of the highest wind speeds recorded in the emriate. The severe weather even forced motorists on Dubai's Business Bay crosssing to park their cars on the emergency lane.

The major sandstorm followed a heavy downpour with some areas receiving heavy rainfall and lightning. Residents in some areas of Al Nahda and Al Qusais also reported having power outage in their houses.

A previous weather warning had warned about a sandstorm but most residents were caught unprepared by the blinding sandstorm. Police cars and civic officials were on hand to provide support.

Strong winds even uprooted trees and sign-boards in residential areas like Karama. Motorists on Ittihad Road reported a major accident near Exit 5 as ambulances were quick to arrive at the scene. — muaz@khaleejtimes.com