Flight were cancelled, private and public schools will be shut tomorrow across the Emirates
DUBAI (United Arab Emirates) – Showers lashed various parts of the country on Tuesday morning. The emirate of Abu Dhabi witnessed heavy rain from 12 to 1 pm. The rain was accompanied by the blowing of strong winds, which dimmed visibility. Water poured through ceilings and whipped through streets in Dubai, UAE capital. In Abu Dhabi, the hard rains forced the capital’s stock market to halt trading and close for the day.
Dubai Police said they received more than 3,200 emergency calls and have recorded 253 traffic accidents just between 6am and 1pm today, so more incidents are likely to be pouring in now.
Major General Jassem Al Marzouqi, Commander-in-Chief of the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence, said that there had been no reported deaths from incidents, although massive property damage has occurred in today’s rainstorm across the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The rain temporarily halted flights at Abu Dhabi International Airport, the home of Etihad. The rain also delayed some flights at Dubai International Airport, the home of long-haul carrier Emirates.
Several events were cancelled or suspended for the day in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, including Abu Dhabi Expo and Dubai Canvas festival activities.
The center has also warned against sailing in the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman due to the very rough waves and the violent winds, both onshore and offshore. Visibility will remain low as a result of the heavy rain.
The weather will remain unstable in the country on Wednesday and Thursday. The cumulus clouds will also continue forming increasingly over different parts, especially along the northern and eastern areas with opportunity of rainfall.
The National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) issued warnings about the pending inclement weather and asked the UAE residents to prepare for the unsettling conditions.