UAE flood alert: There is a dust storm sweeping through the country as heavy rains fall in three emirates. The National Center of Meteorology (NCM) has issued red code alert for some areas of the country.
The health authorities has asked the residents to mask up to stay away from the dust.
The police has urged the motorists to drive cautiously amid the unstable weather conditions the day witnessed.
Red Alert
The NCM issued red alert in various parts of the country, cautioning of “hazardous weather events of exceptional severity”.
The National Centre of Meteorology has advised residents to avoid going outdoors as it has issued yellow, orange and red alerts.
UAE Flood Alert
The NCM has also issued a flood alert, asking residents of affected areas to take “utmost care” and “avoid valleys, landslides, and flooded areas”.
— المركز الوطني للأرصاد (@NCMS_media) August 14, 2022
Authorities have urged residents in the country’s east to avoid “dangerous areas” like valleys that will see “heavy water flows” due to rains. The Emirates Health Services (EHS) announced the readiness of all staff and personnel at hospitals and primary healthcare centres in the Eastern region “to deal with the expected weather changes across Fujairah, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah”.
The NCM confirmed heavy rains in four emirates: Abu Dhabi’s Al Ain; Sharjah’s Wadi Al Helo; Fujairah’s Esfai and Masafi; and Ras Al Khaimah’s Shawkah, Wadi Al Ujaili and Al Layat. Weather-related social media handle Storm Centre also reported rains in Dubai’s Hatta. Rain was most likely to fall in the southern and western parts of the country.
On Sunday afternoon, heavy rain hit the Northern Emirates, causing Fujairah residents to be “extremely vigilant”.
While the northern emirates is expected to rain till 9PM, NCM said.
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Flights diverted
Dusty conditions caused multiple flights to be diverted as visibility over Abu Dhabi and Dubai airports dropped to less than 500 meters.
Operations at Dubai International (DXB) were disrupted due to the poor weather, with 10 inbound flights diverted to Dubai World Central (DWC) and “other neighbouring airports”.
Throughout Sunday, Abu Dhabi and Dubai skylines were covered by a grayish haze that obscured prominent landmarks like the Burj Khalifa and Ain Dubai and the visibility got reduced.
The official weather bulletin predicts dusty conditions and rains over the next four days.
Abu Dhabi Police cautioned motorists to be vigilant while driving in dusty conditions.
