UAE set for three days of rain - one year on from emergency weather alert

November marks the onset of a higher chance of rainfall across the Emirates

Heavy rain in Dubai on November 10, 2019. Twitter/ @Storm_centre

Fencing comes down as dark clouds and rain batter Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Abu Dhabi residents look out to see as the rain begins to fall. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Faqeet in Fujairah under storm clouds. Courtesy Twitter/ @Storm_centre

Road workers clear the street from flying debris from the strong winds in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Pedestrians protect themselves from the elements during the strong winds and light showers in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Wind in Abu Dhabi. Twitter/ @Storm_centre

Rain and hail reported in Warqa. Twitter/ @Storm_centre

Rain in Dubai. Satish Kumar for The National

Beach goers sheltering from the rain. Leslie Pableo for The National

Collapsed lampost near the Corniche, Abu Dhabi. Gerald George for The National

A flag comes partly free from a building as dark clouds and rain batter the Abu Dhabi coast on Sunday November 10, 2019. Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road during the rain in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

A mother with her child during the rain in the Discovery Gardens area in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Traffic goes through water logged street after heavy rain in Dubai Internet City. Pawan Singh / The National

Roads were becoming treacherous across the UAE on November 10, 2019 as rain set in across the country. Courtesy Twitter/ @Storm_centre

Dark clouds and rain batter the Abu Dhabi coast on November 10, 2019. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A walker surveys the storm. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Abu Dhabi residents watch the storm as it approaches. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The rain begins to fall in Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Boats moored in Abu Dhabi as the rain begins to fall. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Earth collapses in the eastern region of the UAE. Courtesy Twitter/ @Storm_centre

Sharjah suffered early on. Courtesy Twitter/ @Storm_centre

Warnings have been issued to drivers. Courtesy Twitter/ @Storm_centre

Road conditions deteriorted quickly. Courtesy Twitter/ @Storm_centre

The storm brewing. Courtesy Twitter/ @Storm_centre

Wadi al-Ajili suffered heavy rainfall. Courtesy Twitter/ @Storm_centre

Put your sunglasses to one side and unpack your umbrella ... the UAE looks set for three days of rain as the first throes of winter arrive.

And, as if right on cue, the wet spell comes almost exactly one year after one of the most extreme storms in recent years.

High winds and rain swept through Abu Dhabi on Sunday after midday, severely reducing visibility. Abu Dhabi Police also sent out an emergency alert calling on drivers to be careful due to the conditions.

Thunderstorms also hit areas of Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Sharjah on Saturday night and continued on Sunday morning.

Last week, the National Centre of Meteorology forecast rain on Saturday, Sunday and Monday in Dubai and on Sunday and Monday in the capital.

The Northern Emirates, which tend to bear  the brunt of the rains, are set to be wet across the three days as well.

Temperatures are expected to hover around 34°C while wind speeds will reach up to 38 kilometres per hour.

Earlier, the NCM earlier warned of potential flash floods in the east and north of the country, with "thunder and lightning over different parts of the country".

A ridge of high pressure was approaching from the north west, while an upper air trough of low pressure was set to move in from the north-east.

'Stay indoors, do not go out'

It was November 11, 2018 when the phones of Abu Dhabi residents starting making a loud, buzzing noise.

“I thought my mobile was going to explode,” wrote one member of the Abu Dhabi Q&A Facebook page.

The rain had started early that evening, with strong, gusty winds whipping up sand against a backdrop of flashes of lightning.

Tree branches broke off and debris from construction sites was sent hurtling through the air.

The reason for the buzzing phones was a warning message sent by Abu Dhabi Police, which read: "Due to the bad weather please stay indoors and do not go out."

British pop star Dua Lipa was expected to perform at Louvre Abu Dhabi but the show  was cancelled "due to dangerous weather".

Forecasters confirmed that eight months' worth of rain – 49.4 millimetres – fell in just one hour in an area between Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The storms caused tailbacks between the capital and Dubai, with commuters witnessing dramatic scenes as the road became flooded and the sky lit up with regular flashes.

Last month, the country's east coast was hit by Cyclone Kyarr, the biggest storm in the Arabian Sea in a decade, with schools forced to close and homes flooded.

“The glass was destroyed and shattered due to the strong waves - all of the chairs and tables were washed away during the storm,” said Miramar general manager Ashraf Helmy

Despite the disruption, he said the guests "are enjoying the view of the high waves"

Storm surge waters have hit east coast towns in the UAE and Oman in recent days, causing schools in some areas to close

Kyarr is the strongest cyclone in the Arabian Sea in 12 years, second only to the category 5 Cyclone Gonu that ravaged the coast in 2007

The hotel had to close its Bahari Grill restaurant due to the damage

“The seawater took many of our umbrellas, sunbeds and wooden partitions that were ‎placed on the beach and destroyed our beach restaurant,” said Mr Helmy

The damage so far has been from the periphery of the storm; Kyarr's epicentre is still several hundred kilometres from the Emirati and Omani coasts

Waves broke the hotel's wooden railing and swept the debris away

The storm caused damage at the Miramar resort at the popular area of Al Aqah as the waves destroyed a restaurant and washed away chairs and tables.

A worker at a hotel in Fujairah drowned after he was swept out to sea during the storms.

November weather explained

This month is the second in the transitional period, the NCM said.

Temperatures are usually four to six degrees cooler than during October.

"The country experiences winds coming in from Siberia, especially in the second half of the month, which results in lower temperatures and colder evenings, especially in the mountainous and desert areas," the NCM said.

It also said that cold air pockets in the upper levels of the atmosphere lead to an increase in cloud, rain and strong winds carrying sand and dust.

Humidity levels rise during the mornings, with an average of 85 per cent experienced across the month.

The highest temperature in the UAE for November is 38.8°C, which was recorded in 2009, while the lowest is 4.1°C, which was recorded at Jebel Jais in 2009.

The highest amount of rainfall was recorded at Delma Island in 2013 when 211.4mm of water fell.

The foggiest November was in 2016, when 13 days of heavy fog were recorded, along with six days of light fog.

The highest wind speed was 97km\h in Ruwais in 2013.