UAE weather: Risk of more rain after stormy night across the country

The national weather service issued a warning following a night of heavy rain and thunder storms that swept across the country beginning just after midnight and peaking around 3am in the capital and Dubai regions.

ABU DHABI // A warning of unstable weather conditions continued to be in effect on Monday morning as the National Center of Meteorology and Seismology said cloud, thunder, rain and strong winds would persist across the country.

The national weather service’s warning follows a night of heavy rain and thunder storms that swept across the country beginning just after midnight and peaking around 3am in the capital and Dubai regions.

“Cloud amount will increase over most areas, associated with rainfall of different intensity over scattered areas,” the NCMS said. “The instability will become clear by late night and Tuesday morning with decreasing cloud amounts gradually.”

Police in Ras Al Khaimah warned people to avoid entering the mountains and wadis after dozens of videos appeared online showing flooded roads, rapidly flowing rivers and gushing waterfalls created by the abundant rainfall.

RAK police “emphasise the need not to go to the mountains or near the places where rain water gathers valleys flow” and advised drivers to take caution on the roads.

The fresh to strong northeasterly winds associated with the wintry conditions will blow between 30 and 45km/h, and gust up to 75km/h at times along the coast and the mountains.

The wind intensity will be slightly weaker in the interior, but the NCMS warned of a potential for blowing dust and poor visibility of less than 1,000 metres at times.

The Arabian Gulf and Oman Sea are expected to be rough to very rough.

Temperatures along the coast will reach highs of between 24°C and 30°C, while the interior will experience slightly warmer conditions with highs between 27°C and 36°C. The mountain areas will remain cool with highs between 13°C and 21°C.

The lowest temperature recorded in the country earlier today was 10.3°C in Jais Mountain at 7am.