VIDEO: Heavy rain, sandstorm hit parts of UAE

Abdulrahman Saeed, Staff Reporter

Light to heavy rains fell in different parts across the UAE on Sunday the first day of Eid Al Fitr, while strong and sand-stirring winds blew on the country, causing the horizontal visibility to drop to less than 200 metres and to zero sometimes. The highest temperature of 45.3 degrees Celsius was recorded in Seeh Al Salam.

The rains started to fall on Abu Dhabi-Suwaihan road and southern Al Wathba in Abu Dhabi and Hamda, Mahafiz, Mleiha, Al Madam and Filli in Sharjah, Lehab in Dubai and Al Salamat, Mirqab, Al Faqa, Umm Ghafa, Al Shuwaib, Malaqet, Khatm Shakla and Al Hayer in Al Ain.

The Abu Dhabi Police called on drivers to exercise extreme caution due to the rainy weather conditions and to abide by the speed limits as shown on the electronic road signs. Meanwhile, the National Centre for Meteorology (NCM) called on the public to be extremely cautious in the absence of horizontal visibility during heavy rains and strong winds and to keep away from flooded valleys.

The NCM said rains are expected to continue falling till Tuesday, i.e. throughout the days of Eid Al Fitr. Monday’s weather is expected to be partly cloudy with a chance for cumulative clouds to be formed in the afternoon in eastern and northern parts and inlands, possibly accompanied by rains.

The weather will be humid in some coastal areas on Tuesday night and morning, while the winds will be south-easterly to north-easterly, moderate to active and sometimes strong and sand-stirring during the day at 20 to 30 km/hour and up to 45 km/hour, the NCM added, noting that the sea would have light to moderate waves in the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.

The NCM pointed out that Tuesday’s weather would be clear to partly cloudy in general with a chance for some cumulative clouds to be formed in eastern and northern parts in the afternoon, possibly accompanied by some rains. The weather will be humid in some coastal areas on Wednesday night and morning, while the winds will be south-westerly to north-westerly, light to moderate and sometimes strong and sand-stirring during the day at 20-30 km/hour and up to 40 km/hour, the NCM said, adding that the sea would have light to moderate waves in the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.