Foul weather forces schools and offices to work remotely in UAE
ABUDHABI: Most areas across the UAE on Monday witnessed heavy rain with lightning and thunder and active and dust-stirring winds that caused the horizontal visibility to be lower on highways that would continue until Wednesday.
Rains of varying intensity fell on separate areas in Al Dhafra Region, Al Ain City, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, while heavy rains with lightning and thunder fell on Hata in Dubai, separate areas in Sharjah and Muzeirah in Ajman.
The lowest temperature of 12.9˚C was recorded in Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah at 07:45am, while the second lowest temperature of 14.9˚C was recorded in Jebel Al Mebrah at 06:45am.
Also during the day, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, has directed all Dubai Government entities and private schools in the emirate to shit to remote work on Tuesday (April 16) due to expected unstable weather conditions in the country.
“Due to the expected weather conditions in the country, we have directed that work be done remotely on Tuesday (April 16) for employees of the Dubai government and all private schools in the emirate,” wrote Sheikh Hamdan on X. The directive was issued to ensure the safety and well-being of staff, students and teachers.
Remote learning: earlier, the emirates schools
Establishment has directed all government schools in the UAE to shit to remote learning on Tuesday and Wednesday due to the expected unstable weather conditions. The decision was taken to ensure the safety of students and teaching staff during unstable weather conditions.
“Due to the current weather conditions, the Emirates Schools Establishment has decided to adopt the distance learning system for all government schools in the UAE on Tuesday and Wednesday, corresponding to April 16 and 17, 2024, in order to preserve the safety of students and teaching staff,” wrote the Emirates Schools Establishment on X.
The Sharjah Local Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management team decided to activate the distance learning system in the emirate’s private schools and suspend all sports competitions and activities organised by the Sharjah Sports Council on Tuesday and Wednesday due to the unstable weather conditions to be prevailing in the country.
The local Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Team in Ajman and Umm Al Quwain in coordination with the relevant authorities, have also decided to switch to distance learning in private schools on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 16 and 17, due to the expected weather conditions.
The decision was aimed at preserving public safety in light of the state of alert and readiness that was raised in the emirate to confront the repercussions of the unstable weather conditions and ensure that the vital services continue to be provided.
The Sharjah local emergency, crisis and disaster management team stresses the importance for motorists to take caution while driving during rainfall and weather fluctuations and to stay away from flooded valleys, warning the public of the danger of approaching valleys and mountains and going to the seaside.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) has called on private sector companies in areas most impacted by the exceptional weather conditions forecasted for the UAE to take precautions in outdoor work environments where it is difficult to suspend operations, urging employers to ensure workers’ health and safety during their commute to and from these sites and that occupational health and safety requirements are met.
In a circular, MOHRE said, “In light of the exceptional weather conditions forecasted for the UAE, and in coordination with relevant authorities across the country, we advise private sector companies to take all necessary precautions and make sure that occupational health and safety requirements are met to ensure the safety of their workers during the expected period of weather fluctuations.” It added, “Companies are required to comply with the directives issued by the relevant local authorities in each emirate regarding exceptional weather conditions and their impact on business operations.”
Earlier during the day, the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has issued a weather advisory detailing at-intervals-fluctuations in weather patterns across the country over the coming days.
According to NCM, Monday aternoon will see convective cloud formation over coastal and internal areas, coupled with rainfall, lightning and thunder at times.
From Monday evening until Tuesday aternoon, the weather will be unstable weather beginning over the Western areas and moving towards Abu Dhabi and the Northern and Eastern areas, which will experience larger amounts of convective clouds, coupled with rainfall of different intensities, accompanied by lightning and thunder, and a probability of hail over some areas.
The period between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning will see another wave begin from the western areas and includes catered areas of the country, which will experience larger amounts of convective clouds, coupled with rainfall of different intensities, accompanied by lightning and thunder, and a probability of hail over some areas.