Rain spoils Louvre’s first birthday bash
ABU DHABI — British singer Dua Lipa’s concert to mark the first anniversary of Louvre Abu Dhabi was cancelled on Sunday evening as heavy rain lashed the UAE. Civic and emergency bodies warned about the bad weather.
UAE residents received text messages from police forces in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, advising them to “stay indoors due to the bad weather”. The text message alert tone sounded like an alarm that lasted for several seconds.
The Dubai Police advised beach-goers to be extremely cautious due to the extreme weather.
The warning messages came as heavy rain and storms kicked up sand and debris on roads. While the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) tweeted about heavy rains, the Ministry of Interior warned of “severe winds and dust”.
Residents took to social media to warn motorists to drive safely, with some reporting uprooted trees on roads.
James, a resident who stays near the Abu Dhabi corniche, tweeted: “The winds were battering my windows so hard I thought the glasses will break. I have never seen such bad weather in Abu Dhabi.”
Charles Capel, a Reem Island resident, tweeted: “Wind pulled my window open — bed covered in dust.”
The NCM tweeted videos and photos that showed heavy rain and strong winds in different parts of the UAE. The NCM said the wintry, wet weather would continue till Tuesday, with chances of scattered rainfall.
dubai — Heavy rain and storms lashed parts of the UAE, with the police and authorities urging residents to stay indoors. By 7pm, strong winds and thunderstorms battered parts of Abu Dhabi and the police sent text messages to residents to “not step out due to the bad weather”.
The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) tweeted videos and photos that showed heavy rain, lightning and strong winds in different parts of the UAE.
Heavy rain was reported at Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport, while Discovery Gardens and Al Quoz saw medium intensity rains. The Dubai Police tweeted: “Winds and rain expected across the country. We urge motorists to drive with extreme caution.”
In Abu Dhabi, heavy rain was reported in Mohamed Bin Zayed City, Khalifa City, Al Rahba, Umm Al Sheif, Al Ain and Sweihan.
Social media was abuzz with photos and videos posted by residents, who were taken by surprise by the sudden weather change. Residents also reported trees were uprooted on the roads on E11 and “cardboards were flying all over”.
“Wind pulled my window open — bed covered in dust,” Charles Capel, a Reem Island resident tweeted.
James, another resident who stays near the Abu Dhabi corniche, said he had to rush home from shopping. “The winds were
Dubai Police
battering my windows so hard I thought the glasses will break. I have never seen such bad weather in Abu Dhabi.” A resident who goes by the name ‘Savage Cabbage’ tweeted: “A rare night for Abu Dhabi. Strong winds, thunder, lightning, even smells like some rain is coming.”
The UAE residents woke up to an overcast sky and strong winds on Sunday, and they can expect the same kind of dreary weather to continue till Tuesday, with the addition of scattered rainfall across the country. With the winter season now upon us, an official from the national Met agency told Khaleej Times the windy and rainy weather will be a common occurrence in the next couple of days.
“The UAE will be affected by a moderate instability in weather. The formation of convective and thundery rain clouds will see grey skies remain and fresh to strong
winds will cause poor visibility inland, across various parts of the country.”
The wintry, wet weather is expected to continue “until late Tuesday”, he said, adding that it will result in “rough to very rough seas” along the Arabian Gulf.
Rain is expected in scattered parts of the country until Tuesday, and the intensity will be from light to moderate, the NCM spokesperson
added. However, estimated amount of rainfall was not revealed by the Met body.
“Coastal areas will be most affected by this unstable weather and residents can expect thundery rain at times of different intensities.”
Sunday’s average maximum temperature hovered between 20 and 26 Celsius in coastal areas and 23-28 in internal areas.
Winds and rain expected across the country. We urge motorists to drive with extreme caution.”