UAE

Sandstorm sweeps through Dubai as rain and thunder lash Al Ain

Drivers contend with hazardous conditions across the UAE

The National

September 24, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Drivers faced challenging conditions as heavy rain and thunder lashed Al Ain on Friday and a sandstorm swept through Dubai.

Pools of water formed on roads after downpours during the day in Al Ain.

Skies were hazy and visibility low in Dubai shortly after 5pm.

The National Centre of Meteorology released footage on social media of the stormy weather, with many of its tweets featuring a cloud seeding hashtag.

The weather forecaster predicted convective clouds would take shape in the afternoon to early evening, along with the prospect of strong winds.

Convective clouds are ideal for cloud seeding.

Planes are fitted with special flares that are loaded with salt crystals and fired into convective, or warm, clouds that have an updraft or rising current of air.

The updraft then sucks the salt crystals up into the clouds where they attract tiny particles of water that collide, becoming heavier and then falling as rain.

  • A sandstorm hit Dubai on September 25, 2021. Pawan Singh / The National.
    A sandstorm hit Dubai on September 25, 2021. Pawan Singh / The National.
  • The storm reduced visibility across the city. Pawan Singh / The National.
    The storm reduced visibility across the city. Pawan Singh / The National.
  • Motorists exercised caution as the storm made driving conditions challenging. Pawan Singh / The National.
    Motorists exercised caution as the storm made driving conditions challenging. Pawan Singh / The National.
  • Buildings on Sheikh Zayed Road were hidden by a blanket of sand. Pawan Singh / The National.
    Buildings on Sheikh Zayed Road were hidden by a blanket of sand. Pawan Singh / The National.
  • Traffic slowed on Dubai's motorways as the storm swept in. Pawan Singh / The National.
    Traffic slowed on Dubai's motorways as the storm swept in. Pawan Singh / The National.
  • The sun failed to pierce through a thick layer of sand and dust in the air. Pawan Singh / The National.
    The sun failed to pierce through a thick layer of sand and dust in the air. Pawan Singh / The National.
  • Motorists maintained a safe distance from one another to avoid collision. Pawan Singh / The National.
    Motorists maintained a safe distance from one another to avoid collision. Pawan Singh / The National.
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