Heavy rains affect routine live in UAE with flight delays, flooded roads and traffic jams
UAE residents urged to stay indoors as heavy rainfall led to flooding and traffic chaos
Dubai: UAE Skies opened up Tuesday with heavy rains disrupting routine life with flooded roads, delayed flights and traffic jams.
UAE authorities have urged the residents to remain indoors amid fear of storms taking over the emirates. Bad weather conditions is expected to continue till Wednesday evening.
The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority has announced that the people should only leave their homes in extreme necessity, as safety alert is announced by the authority.
Flight operation at the airports across the country especially in Dubai and Sharjah were affected due to incessant rains and low visibility. Dubai Airport has reported that dozens of flights have been cancelled or delayed due to bad weather conditions. The heavy rains began overnight, leaving massive ponds of rain water and flooding in wadies and mountain areas.
Highlights of @DCDDubai teams' efforts during the rain in #Dubai. pic.twitter.com/UYc2OwhiKV
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 16, 2024
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) swing into action to drain water from the flooded roads while police patrols remained busy to tackle with traffic issues.
A Dubai resident Zahid told TravelsDubai.com: "For the entire week that started off on April 15, we have been advised by our superiors to stay home and work from home, this comes in as a blessing in disguise for us, as it is turning out to be a prolonged vacation."
The UAE government on Monday had advised remote working for government employees and advised the private sector to do the same. Schools across the country also switched to remote online learning on Tuesday.
The National Centre of Meteorology has issued a yellow alert for larger part of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as winds could reach to a speed of 70kph in the region. It is pertinent to mention that the alert added, "Motorists should avoid driving unless necessary and should exercise caution while travelling."
T NCM Meteorologist is also quoted by Gulf News: "The country will be affected by an unstable weather condition as a result of an extension of a low surface pressure from the Southwest, accompanied by humid southeasterly winds, along with an extension of an upper air pressure, accompanied by an air current from the Northwest."