(Video) UAE gets 2 years’ worth rain in 24 hours, redirects incoming flights, schools operate remotely
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) faced significant flooding on Tuesday as an entire two years’ worth of rain poured down within a mere 24 hours, as per official records. Between 10 p.m. local time on Monday and 10 p.m. local time on Tuesday, the city in the UAE witnessed an astonishing 6.26 inches of rainfall, as reported by the Dubai Meteorological Office.
The National Centre of Meteorology has verified this unprecedented amount of rainfall, and further precipitation is anticipated in the upcoming hours. The aftermath of the heavy rains resulted in extensive water accumulation on the streets, while gusty winds disrupted flights at Dubai International Airport, which is renowned as the world’s busiest airport for international travel and serves as the hub for Emirates, a prominent long-haul carrier.
In response to the “extraordinary weather” conditions, Dubai International Airport temporarily redirected incoming flights scheduled for Tuesday evening local time.
However, departures remained unaffected. Due to the prevailing weather conditions, all government entities and private schools in Dubai were instructed to operate remotely on Tuesday. Rainfall is not a common occurrence in the UAE, but it does happen sporadically during the cooler winter months.
The lack of regular rainfall has resulted in inadequate drainage systems on many roads and other areas, leading to instances of flooding. Additionally, rainfall was also observed in Bahrain, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. In the neighboring country of Oman, heavy rains over the past few days have tragically claimed the lives of at least 18 individuals, according to a statement issued by the National Committee for Emergency Management.
