This week’s weather has been unusual. Dark skies, heavy rainfall and thunderstorms across the seven emirates are not the conditions that one tends to think of when it comes to the UAE, which is more commonly associated with year-round sunshine. Roads have been slippery, trees have been uprooted and entire neighbourhoods have flooded, as The National reports today.
Despite it causing some inconvenience for parents, Abu Dhabi Education Council was proactive in announcing the closure of the emirate’s schools yesterday and today. While some parents initially thought this was an extreme move, the weather conditions have proved the wisdom of this decision.
Despite its infrequency, we still need to learn how to deal with wet weather, from slowing down when we drive to undertaking flood mitigation work. The pools of water sitting on the country’s roads and in its neighbourhoods revealed a lack of preparation for rain. As the clean-up begins, we must learn from these storms.
