UAE weather: Rain showers to dry up before New Year's Eve celebrations

Conditions should be cool and dry by Wednesday night, according to the National Centre of Meteorology

Buildings in Downtown Dubai loom from the gloom amid stormy skies and rain. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Low cloud and rain in Downtown Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The rain comes down in Al Qudra, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Cars drive through puddles in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

The heavy rain left standing water on some roads. Antonie Robertson / The National

Dark skies over Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Rainy weather in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

A man takes shelter under an umbrella during rain in Al Quoz, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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

More rainfall and cloudy weather is forecast for much of the country on Tuesday and Wednesday. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A road sign warning of the hazardous driving conditions. Antonie Robertson / The National

Umbrella weather in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Drenched delivery drivers in Umm Suqeim, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Wet windscreens in Al Quoz. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Wood sellers cover their stock to protect it from the rain in Al Qudra. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Residents take impromptu shelter from the rain in Al Quoz, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Studio City, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Al Qudra, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Rain on the 611 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The rain coming down in Studio City, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Al Qudra, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

People wait out a downpour in Al Quoz. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The rain slows traffic in Al Quoz. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Pedestrians getting wet in Al Quoz. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The wet streets of Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Gloomy wet weather. Antonie Robertson / The National

The rainy start to the week in the UAE will continue through Tuesday and into Wednesday, according to the Emirates' National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) forecast.

Showers should dry up by Wednesday night, meaning plans for New Year's Eve celebrations can be expected to go ahead unaffected.

Temperatures at midnight on December 31 are expected to be around 17ºC.

Rain hammered parts of the country on Monday, with motorists urged to exercise caution on the roads to avoid accidents.

Residents can expect more rain on Tuesday until about 1pm, with cooler temperatures reaching about 23ºC.

Wednesday will have less rainfall and highs of about 25ºC along the coast before conditions dry up completely on Thursday.

The NCM expects the remainder of the week to be consistently dry, with highs of between 26ºC and 27ºC in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Dubai Police shared advice online on Tuesday regarding safe driving in the rain, along with footage of the heavy downpour in the emirate.

Abu Dhabi Police had also called on drivers to be careful in the rain, in a post on social media on Monday morning.

The force asked motorists to abide by varying speed limits displayed on electronic road signs.

Rainfall in the UAE averages between 140mm and 200mm a year, according to the Climate Change Knowledge Portal, with some mountainous areas experiencing up to 350mm a year.