Heavy rain has been falling in parts of the UAE — despite the onset of summer and temperatures approaching 50ºC in areas.
Downpours mainly affected the east of the country, with the National Centre of Meteorology on Monday reporting heavy showers in parts of Al Ain.
Storm Centre, a popular online channel that tracks extreme weather, posted footage showing motorists navigating downpours, with another showing a man standing under dark dies amid high winds and driving rain in Mezaira.
The NCM said there was also a chance of showers on Friday and into the weekend.
“[It will be] hot during daytime, dusty and partly cloudy at times, and some low clouds will appear over [the] eastern coast by morning, with a chance of rainy convective clouds formation eastward and southward,” the forecast said.
The UAE's cloud seeding planes — which try to induce more rain from a cloud — have been in action over the past few days to take advantage of the conditions.
These aircraft usually fire salt flares into the cloud as salt naturally attracts water.
“When we have clouds, then we order the aircraft to fly to [conduct] seeding missions,” a forecaster told The National.
It comes as temperatures approach 50°C in parts of the UAE this week but rainfall during the scorching summer is not uncommon, the forecaster said.
During these months, the monsoon rains from India bring moist air from India across the ocean to the Arabian Peninsula where it then hits the Hajar Mountains.
This causes the “khareef” phenomenon in southern Oman, where summer rains turn the desert green, and downpours in eastern UAE.
Rain in the UAE - in pictures
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A rainbow at Expo 2020 Dubai on a cloudy, rainy day for much of the country from Abu Dhabi city to the Northern Emirates on Sunday, January 16. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
A worker shelters beneath an umbrella in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Downtown Dubai awoke to rain. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Showers in Jumeirah, Dubai, made a day at the beach unappetising. Ruel Pableo for The National -
Cyclists brave the weather in Deira. Ruel Pableo for The National -
A car park in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Showers in Abu Dhabi on Sunday morning. Victor Besa / The National -
Police urged drivers to take care on the roads as rain fell across the UAE. Victor Besa / The National -
Temperatures were expected to reach a maximum of 26°C in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National -
Rain on Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National -
Showers fell on various parts of Abu Dhabi before sunrise. Victor Besa / The National -
People make their way to work during the rain on Sunday morning. Victor Besa / The National -
Forecasters said it would rain throughout the day. Victor Besa / The National -
It has been an exceptionally wet start to 2022 for the UAE, with more than 18 months' worth of rain falling in only a few days earlier in the month. Victor Besa / The National -
Almost the entire Abu Dhabi emirate was blanketed in dense fog at the weekend. Victor Besa / The National -
People make their way on a street in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National -
A man crosses a road in the capital. Victor Besa / The National -
Many people were wearing warm clothes, as chilly temperatures accompanied the rains. Victor Besa / The National -
A man rides an electric bike in the rain. Victor Besa / The National -
Women make their way amid the rains. Victor Besa / The National -
An almost deserted beach in Abu Dhabi during the wet weather. Victor Besa / The National
