RAK suburbs under white blanket
AVAST stretch of desert in Ras Al Khaimah was covered in a blanket of white as hail hit the emirate on Saturday. Excited residents took to social media to share videos and photos of them playing in snow-like conditions.
Some were seen wading through knee-deep hail in the desert adjacent to the Sheikh Khalifa Specialty Hospital, while others played with the white pellets that came pouring down on them. Ebrahim Almas, an Emirati, said he went out to enjoy the hail that covered the vast expanse near the Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Road. The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) tweeted a resident’s video that showed the desert area covered in a white blanket of hail. Additionally, heavy rains hit several parts of the UAE. A forecaster from the NCM told Khaleej Times that more hail and heavy rains are expected on Sunday.
abu dhabi — The weather played spoilsport this weekend, as many residents put off their outing plans due to the storm and rain alert.
The National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) has predicted unstable weather across the UAE, with chances of rain and thunderstorms, between December 15 and 18.
Meanwhile, heavy rain and thunderstorms lashed parts of the UAE on Saturday. The NCMS reported heavy rain over Jebel Jais and Dibba, Fujairah.
Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) was covered with a blanket of hail and snow on Saturday, mainly along the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed road.
Slight to heavy showers have also lashed different parts of the emirate, particularly in the northern mountainous areas and deep valleys, with police warning motorists to drive safely.
Residents have gone out to enjoy the snowfall that covered the entire area on the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road. Many families told Khaleej Times they heeded the forecast, and called off picnics and offroad adventures.
“My family is on visit from India and we were planning to go for a desert drive on Saturday. We cancelled it thinking the weather will be too dangerous to venture out,” said Abdul Rahman, an Abu Dhabi resident.
Shamma Hussain and her friends were all set for a hiking adventure at Jebel Jais mountain in Ras Al Khaimah, but the weather alert ruined their plans as well.
“We are a group of eight friends and had been planning this trip for a while. But after reading about the unstable weather reports, we had no choice but to cancel the plan. RAK could get pounded by heavy rains,” said Hussain, a university student from Jordan.
Corporate events and birthday parties have also taken a hit due to the stormy weather. “We are seriously concerned about the weather forecast as we’re hosting an outdoor party for more than 600 clients in Dubai on Sunday,” an official from a private bank said. “We are thinking of calling it off. You are talking about a few hundred thousand dirhams down the drain,” said the bank official.
Unsteady weather to continue
The weather department has sounded the alarm and asked residents to be cautious while out near the sea. “It is not advisable to go swimming or venture out to the mountains till Monday. The weather conditions are very unstable and we are closely monitoring the situation,” said a forecaster.
According to the NCMs, it will be increasingly cloudy over most areas of the country, with more convective clouds, associated with rainfall of different intensity at scattered places. Moderate to fresh winds will blow, which may cause rising dust. Taking into account the looming rains and storm, the General Directorate of Abu Dhabi Police said it has stepped up its preparations for emergency situations due to the expected weather fluctuations.
The Abu Dhabi Police confirmed its readiness to receive all emergency calls to its control centres in Abu Dhabi, Al Dhafra and Al Ain, in normal or exceptional circumstances. The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority said it is liaising with all concerned authorities, including police and municipalities, to manage the situation. The authority also has put in place an action plan for evacuation of residents and aid supply, in case of a crisis.
anjana@khaleejtimes.com
Jordanian, university student Abu Dhabi resident
We are a group of friends and had been planning this (RAK) trip for a while. After reading about weather reports, we had no choice but cancel the plan.” Hussain,
My family is on visit from India and we planned a desert drive However, we cancelled it thinking the weather will be too dangerous to venture out.” Abdul Rahman,