UAE weather: It is the wettest July since 1978, so what is causing the deluge?

A low-pressure system from India, which is experiencing monsoons, is bringing the unsettled conditions

Towers in Fujairah city surrounded by floodwaters. Photo: Mahesh Jangam / @MaheshMj80202 / Twitter

Vehicles partially submerged on the streets of the city. Photo: Mahesh Jangam / @MaheshMj80202 / Twitter

A flooded area in Fujairah city. Photo: Fujairah Media Office

A dam in the emirate of Fujairah overflows. Photo: Fujairah Media Office

Emergency teams relocate people in Fujairah, after their homes were flooded. Photo: UAE Ministry of Defence

Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, inspects the areas affected by heavy rains. Photo: Fujairah Media Office

During the inspection tour, Sheikh Mohammed stressed that efforts will continue and all resources will be allocated to deal with the situation. Photo: Fujairah Media Office

The Joint Operations Command of the Ministry of Defence announced the continuation of Operation Loyal Hands in Fujairah, after heavy rain and flash flooding. Photo: UAE Ministry of Defence

Civilians were evacuated and given medical aid where required. Photo: MOD UAE

Search and rescue teams and equipment were sent to Fujairah. Photo: MOD UAE

Civil authorities were working to diminish the effects of the torrential rain. Photo: MOD UAE

Flooding in Fujairah city, as more rain is expected. Antonie Robertson / The National

Flooding in Fujairah city: Damage in the Alfaseel neighbourhood. Antonie Robertson / The National

Flooding in Fujairah city: Damage in the Alfaseel neighbourhood. Antonie Robertson / The National

Damage and flooding near the carpet souk area. Antonie Robertson / The National

Flooding in Fujairah city. Antonie Robertson / The National

An SUV negotiates a flooded Fujairah city road after heavy rain hit parts of the Northern Emirates. Antonie Robertson / The National

Roads and residential areas in Fujairah were flooded, displacing many from their homes. Antonie Robertson / The National

Sitting on the fence, residents are all smiles despite pools of standing water forming on roads in Fujairah city. Antonie Robertson / The National

Civil defence workers help to recover cars in water-logged Fujairah city. Antonie Robertson / The National

The weather bureau has forecast more rain in the next few days. Antonie Robertson / The National

Vehicles submerged in water-logged roads in Fujairah. Antonie Robertson / The National

Car swept away in flash floods lies beside a road in Fujairah. Antonie Robertson / The National

Waterlogged low lying areas and subways in Fujairah city. Antonie Robertson / The National

Flooding in Fujairah city. Antonie Robertson/The National

Flooding in Fujairah city. Antonie Robertson/The National

Flooding in Fujairah city. Antonie Robertson/The National

An overturned car in Fujairah city beside a flooded road. Antonie Robertson / The National

More rain is forecast for the UAE's east coast. Antonie Robertson/The National

Downpours have led to flooding across Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah. Antonie Robertson/The National

Flooding in Fujairah city. Antonie Robertson/The National

Ministry of Defence images show servicemen helping residents in floodwaters in the Northern Emirates. Photo: UAE Ministry of Defence

Flooding in Fujairah city with more rains expected. Antonie Robertson/The National

Rescue personnel help residents affected by the flooding in the Northern Emirates. Photo: UAE Ministry Of Defence

Servicemen move residents to dry ground. Photo: UAE Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence images show servicemen helping residents in floodwaters in the Northern Emirates. Photo: UAE MOD

Cars navigate flooded roads in Fujairah. Issa Alkindy/The National

A car swept away in the floods on the outskirts of Fujairah. Issa Alkindy/The National

Cars that were washed away by flooding on the outskirts of Fujairah. Issa Alkindy/The National

The aftermath of flooding in Fujairah. Issa Alkindy/The National

Water on the roads in Fujairah. Issa Alkindy/The National

A man takes a photo of the floods in Fujairah. Issa Alkindy/The National

Families stop at the side of a mountain in Khor Fakkan to play in the water. Ruel Pableo for The National

Families stop to play in the water. Ruel Pableo for The National

Children play in the water flowing down the side of the road. Ruel Pableo for The National

There was some rockfall in areas along the road. Ruel Pableo for The National

Families stop at the side of the mountain to play in the water. Ruel Pableo for The National

A man clears rocks from the road. Ruel Pableo for The National

Families stop to play in the water. Ruel Pableo for The National

Cars navigate a flooded road in Khor Fakkan, amid heavy rains in the city. Ruel Pableo for The National

Waterlogged roads in the city after torrential rain fell overnight. Ruel Pableo for The National

Khor Fakkan has experienced two days of intense rainfall. Ruel Pableo for The National

Authorities are urging people to take care in hazardous conditions. Ruel Pableo for The National

More wet weather is expected this week, particularly in the Northern Emirates. Ruel Pableo for The National

A cyclist struggles to make progress on a flooded road. Ruel Pableo for The National

Rain was expected in the UAE on July 27. Ruel Pableo for The National

Bouts of heavy rain made for slippery road conditions for motorists in Sharjah. Ruel Pableo for The National

Khor Fakkan has borne the brunt of much of the stormy weather. Ruel Pableo for The National

A waterlogged road in the mountains. Ruel Pableo for The National

People seek shelter during a downpour. Ruel Pableo for The National

The mountainous area has been lashed by rain. Ruel Pableo for The National

A flooded road in Khor Fakkan. Ruel Pableo for The National

The UAE’s east coast has been hammered by torrential rain and strong winds over the past few days.

Flash flooding occurred in parts of Sharjah’s Khor Fakkan on Wednesday with some families having to be rescued from their inundated homes.

The National Centre of Meteorology told The National this is the wettest July in the UAE since 1978. Most rain was recorded at a rain gauge in Fujairah Port, where 234.9 millimetres was recorded between 10.30pm on July 25 and 9.18am on Thursday, July 28.

The second highest was at Masafi ― 209.7mm ― with the third highest recorded at Fujairah Airport with 187.9mm.

Considering the UAE's annual rainfall is about 100mm a year, the statistics underline the intensity of the weather conditions.

What is causing the current weather?

Low pressure systems drifting across from India, which is experiencing annual monsoons, are bringing the unsettled weather.

The NCM forecast the unsettled weather last weekend and said on Thursday that similar conditions could be expected for the next few days, although probably not with the intensity seen on Wednesday.

“The general situation today [Thursday] is better,” an NCM forecaster said.

“The low pressure systems are slightly weaker with rainfall expected to be of less intensity,” he said.

“But we still have low pressure, convective clouds and a chance of rain across the country, including Abu Dhabi and Dubai.”

Is this normal?

Some rainfall and cloud cover is common every year during the summer ― especially in the east ― because of the monsoon systems. They bring moist air across the ocean to the Arabian Peninsula where it then hits the Hajar Mountains and sometimes causes rain.

This causes the “khareef” phenomenon in southern Oman, where summer rains turn the desert green, and occasional downpours in eastern UAE.

But the NCM said the rains this year are more intense than in previous years.

“This cycle started around July 25,” the NCM forecaster said. “It is normal to experience cloud and rain at this time of year but there is more this time.”

What is the role of the cloud-seeding programme?

The UAE’s cloud-seeding programme has been in operation since the 1990s. Planes are sent to fire salt flares at clouds in the hope of inducing more rain. Salt naturally attracts water.

Summer can be a good time for seeding, although the NCM said that seeding attempts only to enhance rainfall, not create downpours, and they do not operate in times of major storms.

“If clouds show signs of heavy rain, and those likely to cause floods, we do not undertake cloud-seeding operations,” Sufian Farrah, cloud-seeding specialist at the NCM, previously told The National.

UAE invests in flood defences

The government acted swiftly to help those in need and teams rescued families from flooded homes and provided emergency accommodation.

Authorities also previously announced key projects to safeguard against flooding. After storms swept across the UAE in January 2020, a UAE minister pledged Dh500 million of investment including dams and flyovers to reduce disruption caused by flooding.

Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development, told the Federal National Council that several key projects were under way.

When will the unsettled conditions end?

The unsettled weather is expected to continue into next week at least. The NCM has forecast strong winds, dust clouds and a chance of rain until Monday.

“We expect a chance of rain over the next few days, especially in the east, as the low-pressure systems are still active,” the NCM forecaster said. “But we don’t anticipate falls of rain like yesterday."