UAE weather alert as heavy rain, high winds and floods hit Al Ain

National Centre of Meteorology urges residents to stay away from areas hit by flash floods

A man rides his bicycle during a brief downpour in the Mussaffah industrial area in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Rain fell in Abu Dhabi as unsettled summer weather continued across the country. Victor Besa / The National

The National Centre of Meteorology issued a forecast for rain in the morning, accompanied by strong winds that could reach 45 kilometres per hour. Victor Besa / The National

Abu Dhabi is expected to have a maximum temperature of 42°C in the next few days. Victor Besa / The National

Low clouds hung over Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Pawan Singh / The National

Temperatures hovered at around 36ºC in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Heavy rain, floods and high winds hit Al Ain and other eastern parts of the UAE on Tuesday.

The National Centre of Meteorology posted footage showed motorists trying to navigate through torrential downpours under leaden skies.

Some motorists were forced to pull over to the side of the road because of the intensity of the rain.

Storm Centre, a popular UAE social media channel that tracks extreme weather, posted similar videos showing flooded roads in Al Ain and heavy showers across the east and around the border with Oman.

Dramatic footage widely shared on social media from Al Ain showed branches being ripped from trees by powerful gusts of wind amid torrential rain in the area.

The NCM gave a warning to residents to stay away from areas where flash floods occurred and cautioned that heavy rains could cut visibility.

The conditions are expected to persist for the next few days.

“[There is] a chance of rainfall over some eastern, northern and southern areas, with a decrease in temperatures over some areas eastward,” was the forecast for Wednesday.

More rain and winds of up to 40 kilometres an hour that could whip up dust clouds are forecast over the next few days.

Low pressure systems are drifting across from India, which is currently experiencing the monsoon.

Some of these systems also cause the phenomenon known as “khareef”, which brings the plant growth that turns parts of southern Oman. It can also bring rainfall to the UAE.

Oman has also been lashed by storms and winds over the past few days.

Rain in the UAE - in pictures