About a year's worth of rain falls on the UAE in a day

More than 61mm fell in one part of Al Ain on Friday as rain lashed the east

Flash floods hitting parts of Al Ain city. Courtesy Storm Centre

Almost a year’s worth of rain fell across the UAE on Friday as parts of the country were hit by torrential downpours, powerful thunderstorms and lightning flashes.

Al Ain bore the brunt of the deluge but Kalba, Khor Fakkan and parts of Fujairah were also hit.

The National Centre of Meteorology confirmed on Sunday that 86.6mm fell across the country on Friday.

A staggering 61.8mm fell in the Al Ain neighbourhood of Al Foah alone, while 17.4mm fell in Rowdah, the bureau said.

The UAE’s average rainfall is less than 100mm a year.

Videos posted by Storm Centre – a social media channel dedicated to the country’s weather – and the local bureau showed motorists attempting to navigate flooded streets in Al Ain, hailstones and driving rain.

The stormy weather continued late into Friday as lightning streaked across the Al Ain sky and rain fell on Jebel Hafit.

The NCM had warned that unsettled weather was on the cards. During the summer, the monsoons bring water-soaked clouds from India. This causes the phenomenon known as khareef in Oman, where the desert turns green, and it also brings rain to the UAE's mountainous east.

The forecaster on Sunday, warned of the chance for more downpours across the east until at least Monday.

Humidity is also set to increase, while winds of up to 42kph could kick up dust clouds.