SNOWMAN COMES TO UAQ
Residents in Umm Al Quwain woke up to hail-covered streets on Sunday and soon images of snowmen made of hail — adorned with red-chequered shemagh — as one seen above, flooded newsfeeds on social media. Photo courtesy: Khalid Al Zarei, media office in-charge, UAQ Executive Council
umm al quwain — Residents in the emirate woke up to hail-covered streets on Sunday, with some early risers capturing ice pellets falling and pummelling their cars and roofs.
Images of snowmen made of hail — adorned with a red-chequered shemagh — flooded newsfeeds as the Umm Al Quwain hashtag in Arabic became a trending topic on social media. Some Netizens also posted the handfuls of hail they gathered from the streets. While some enjoyed the snow-like atmosphere, other residents found the thunderstorms “terrifying”.
“I was driving to my work from Ras Al Khaimah to Abu Dhabi early in the morning when I was shocked with the repetitive thunder. It was amazing, yet scary,” said Mohammed Ibrahim, an Emirati resident.
Weathermen at the National Centre for Meteorology (NCM) told Khaleej Times that moderate to heavy showers hit different parts of Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah on Sunday.
Heavy rain with hail was also reported in Al Tawain and Dibba areas of Fujairah.
More episodes of rainshowers are expected in the next few days, the NCM said. “The lowest temperature recorded in the UAE on Sunday was on Jebel Jais, Ras Al Khaimah, where the mercury dropped to 11, followed by Jebel Mebreh where it recorded 12.8, against 14.4 at Jebel Al Heen, 15.8 in Umm Al Quwain, and 16.4 at Al Farfar area.”
Windspeeds of up to 60kph can also be felt in the northern emirates but it is likely to be the last of the stormy weather blowing eastwards. The police have urged all motorists to be extra careful if they have to hit the roads on rainy days.