Year and a half's rain recorded in three days in the UAE

Al Qudra area hit hardest with 141.8 millimetres, and more is on the way

The rain comes down at the beach in Dubai. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National

The rain comes down in Jumeirah, Dubai

Puddles and umbrellas in Discovery Gardens in Dubai, after a 45-minute deluge on Friday morning

Pedestrians run for cover as rain falls on New Year's Eve in Dubai. City residents were woken by thunder and lightning in the early hours

A delivery motorcyclist negotiates the rain-slicked roads of Dubai. Police warned road users to be extra vigilant in the wet conditions

A pedestrian seeks shelter under an umbrella in Dubai. Another front of rain is forecast to arrive around 11pm on New Year's Eve, with Abu Dhabi set to experience several hours of rain

Further rain is forecast across Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the Northern Emirates on Monday and Tuesday – with up to 40 millimetres in isolated areas

There was isolated flooding in low-lying areas in Dubai, including Discovery Gardens

Dubai bus passengers are glad to get out of the rain

Rain clouds loom on the horizon over Discovery Gardens

A pedestrian is caught out in the rain at Discovery Gardens

Almost 18 months' worth of rain fell in the UAE in the space of just three days – and forecasters say the spate of wild weather is not yet over.

On average, the UAE records about 100 millimetres of precipitation a year.

But since December 30, Saih Al Salam in Dubai, which includes Al Qudra Lakes, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park and Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa, has recorded 141.8mm of rain.

In Sweihan in Al Ain, there was 70mm of rain over the period, while Al Shuwaib in Al Ain recorded 68mm.

Lahbab, which is about 50 kilometres south of Dubai city, recorded 66.1mm and Shawka in Ras Al Khaimah had 64.4mm.

Some areas of the big cities also experienced a lot of rain, including Saadiyat Island, where 35.6mm of rain fell, while Jumeirah recorded 49.5mm.

And the bout of bad weather is not yet over.

Forecasters at the National Centre of Meteorology are predicting further heavy rain accompanied by lightning, thunder and even hail on Monday and Tuesday, when it will be cloudy over most of the country.

Rain of "different intensities" will fall in scattered areas, it said.

Weather satellites on Windy.com show a bank of intense rain reaching the UAE coast, stretching from Abu Dhabi to the northern tip of the country, at about 6am on Monday.

The rain will be heaviest in the area between Abu Dhabi and Dubai and up to and including Ras Al Khaimah.

It will then sweep south east over the course of the day.

There will be further heavy showers on Tuesday, particularly around Al Ain.

On Wednesday and Thursday it will become less cloudy, but there will still be a chance of light to moderate rain over some coastal and northern areas. There will also be a significant drop in temperatures, according to the bureau.