• Dark clouds over Dubai during the recent wet spell in April. Pawan Singh / The National
    Dark clouds over Dubai during the recent wet spell in April. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Clouds covering the Burj Khalifa after the rain in Dubai on April 16. Pawan Singh / The National
    Clouds covering the Burj Khalifa after the rain in Dubai on April 16. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Rain comes down at the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Fujairah. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Rain comes down at the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Fujairah. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A man walks in the rain while covering himself in a plastic sheet in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
    A man walks in the rain while covering himself in a plastic sheet in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Deliveroo drivers hide from the rain in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Deliveroo drivers hide from the rain in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Heay rain on Jumeirah Beach Road in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Heay rain on Jumeirah Beach Road in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • A construction worker in the rain on Kite Beach in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
    A construction worker in the rain on Kite Beach in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Rain on Kite Beach with a lone lifeguard station in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Rain on Kite Beach with a lone lifeguard station in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • A heavy machinery driver takes cover from the rain in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    A heavy machinery driver takes cover from the rain in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • A pedestrian walks in the rain in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    A pedestrian walks in the rain in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • Shoppers take cover from the downpour at Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    Shoppers take cover from the downpour at Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • A rainstorm in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    A rainstorm in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • Rain and thunder hits Abu Dhabi. Roy Cooper / The National
    Rain and thunder hits Abu Dhabi. Roy Cooper / The National
  • Rain and thunder hits Abu Dhabi. Roy Cooper / The National
    Rain and thunder hits Abu Dhabi. Roy Cooper / The National

UAE weather: More rain forecast for Thursday as cloud seeding continues


Ian Oxborrow
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The UAE is set for more wet weather on Thursday having had a drenching in parts on Wednesday.

Dubai experienced rumbles of thunder in the morning, while Abu Dhabi had intermittent downpours throughout the day which left some roads partially flooded.

Heavy grey clouds shrouded the upper levels of the Burj Khalifa and visibility was reduced in many areas as the unstable conditions failed to lift.

The evening brought more thundery showers in from the west along the Abu Dhabi coast, while it was drier inland.

The National Centre of Meteorology said rain is likely to continue on and off until Friday - mostly in western and northern areas.

The UAE has had a number of rainy days in the past month during the season of change between winter and summer as temperatures rise up into the 30s.

Sixteen cloud seeding missions have taken place during the past four days, according to the NCM, which said more will be carried out in the next few days. It said clouds off the coast were mostly targeted.

This week, forecasters confirmed that 95 cloud seeding missions had already been carried out in the first three months of the year, with 2,171 flares loaded with salt crystals fired into clouds in an effort to boost the country's average rainfall.

The highest temperature recorded in the UAE on Wednesday was 33.9°C in Um Azimul in the south of the country. Abu Dhabi city reached 27.8°C, while Dubai recorded 32°C.

Forecasters warned wind speeds could reach 60kph.