A weather warning has been issued over heavy rain, thunder, lightning and high winds set to hit large parts of the UAE on Thursday and Friday.
The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) said the "main rainfall wave" of a sustained bout of unsettled weather is poised to sweep over western regions before moving eastwards to Abu Dhabi on Thursday evening, extending to Friday.
In its latest five-day bulletin, the bureau forecasts "different intensities of rainfall accompanied with lightning, thunder and hail over limited areas" on Thursday.
It cautions that wind speeds could reach up to 60kph, whipping up dust to further hamper visibility, making for challenging conditions on the roads.
The NCM's online weather map projects heavy rain in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the Northern Emirates on both Thursday and Friday, with conditions currently expected to ease on Saturday.
Scattered showers and cloudy skies are in store on Wednesday, before the worst of the unstable weather strikes.
How much rain is expected?
The MSN weather website forecasts that both Abu Dhabi and Dubai are set for a deluge, which will begin late on Thursday.
Rain is expected in Abu Dhabi from 10pm on Thursday, with downpours to continue throughout Friday. An estimated 16mm of rainfall is set to soak the capital, about half of which is projected from midnight until 2am with drier conditions on the way in the early afternoon.
In Dubai, about 8mm of rain is forecast for Thursday, with the wet weather at its most intense between noon and 2pm.
More severe weather is forecast for Friday, MSN's latest data shows. About 15mm of rain is due to lash the emirate during the day, peaking between 4am and 6am with scattered showers persisting until about 2pm.
Much of the UAE experienced unsettled weather conditions on Sunday, with motorists forced to navigate waterlogged roads.
Ras Al Khaimah had the most severe downpours. Videos from the Storm Centre – a popular UAE weather tracking platform – showed waterfalls on Jebel Jais.
The conditions had been forecast by the NCM, with advisories issued by both Dubai Police and Abu Dhabi Police urging the public to follow safety guidelines during the adverse conditions.
The NCM said more than 33mm of rainfall was recorded in Fujairah from Saturday to Monday, with 19mm in Sharjah's Khor Fakkan in the same period. About 12.5mm of rain drenched Ras Al Khaimah on Sunday.
Hazardous roads
The NCM has called on motorists to be vigilant on the roads during potentially hazardous conditions this week.
In an advisory shared on social media, it called on the public to only drive when necessary during rainy weather and to turn on their low-beam headlights during bouts of poor visibility.
The Ministry of Interior also stressed the need for motorists to exercise caution during challenging weather and shared a list of fines in place for those flouting the rules.
- Dh1,000 fine and six black points for gathering near flooded valleys and dams
- Dh1,000 fine, four black points and 60-day vehicle impoundment for obstructing emergency workers during rainy weather
- Dh2,000 fine, 23 black points and 60-day impoundment of vehicle for entering flooded valleys
