'Heaviest Rainfall On Record': What Caused Unexpected Deluge In Dessert City Of Dubai

‘heaviest rainfall on record’: what caused unexpected deluge in dessert city of dubai

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday experienced the heaviest rains ever recorded in the country. Over the course of a few hours, various segments of Dubai experienced heavy flooding.

According to a report by the Associated Press (AP), the rains in Dubai flooded out portions of highways and the Dubai International Airport. Lightning was seen flashing across the sky, with it even occasionally touching the tip of the Burj Khalifa, reported AP.

The WAM news agency of the country said that the “historic weather event” was the “heaviest rainfall on record” since the country had started documenting and collecting data in 1949.

The rains began on late Monday, and the region experienced some 20 millimeters (0.79 inches) of rain, reported AP. The rains intensified on Tuesday morning at around 9 am, and continued throughout the day. By the end of Tuesday, Dubai had experienced more than 142 millimeters (5.59 inches) of rainfall in 24 hours, which was far more than the 94.7 millimeters (3.73 inches) the Dubai International Airport experiences in an average year, according to the report.

What caused the rain?

According to a report by CNN, Dubai’s rains are associated with a larger storm which is crossing the Arabian Peninsula and is moving across the Gulf of Oman, bringing unusually wet weather to Oman and southeast Iran, added CNN.

Various countries across the world have been affected by unusual weather and floods. Flash floods in Pakistan have recently led to the deaths of several across the country.

Airport, Malls Flooded

The airport was affected by the rainfall, reported AP, and it ended up halting arrivals. Passengers struggled to reach their terminals due to the flood water, and runways were affected by standing water, said the report.

“You cannot get a taxi. There’s people sleeping in the metro station. There’s people sleeping in the airport,” a man told AP. The Dubai International Airport said on Wednesday morning that the flooding had affected flights as airport crews couldn’t reach the airfield.

Police and emergency personnel drove through the flooded streets of Dubai. The city’s metro system was disrupted and stations experienced flooding. Schools were largely shut, and government employees were working remotely if possible, reported AP.

Authorities took up the task of pumping out the water. According to the report, the police said that a 70-year-old man in Ras al-Khaimah died when his vehicle was swept away by water from the floods. The emirate of Fujairah saw the heaviest rainfall measuring 145 millimeters, they added.

The UAE does not ordinarily experience such rainfall. Therefore, the roadways and other areas lack drainage given the fact that there is a lack of regular rainfall, added AP.