UAE weather: Storms and rainy weather expected until Thursday night

Trees on Airport Road in Abu Dhabi were uprooted during the storm on Wednesday. Ravindranath K / The National

“Unstable” weather conditions are expected to continue until Thursday evening, forecasters say, predicting thunderstorms and rainfall as authorities warn residents to avoid flood-prone areas.

Rainfall of different intensities is expected in many areas, and could lead to flooding in valleys near the highlands in the country’s eastern and northern regions, the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology said.

Winds are expected to be moderate to brisk, with seas rough at times in the Arabian Gulf and Arabian Sea.

The amount of clouds is expected to increase and thunder is predicted, particularly in the north and east. Cloud cover is expected to decrease on Thursday night and Friday morning, with a chance of fog, especially in interior areas.

The Ministry of Interior urged residents to abide by safety guidelines and said its departments were following emergency plans. No major incidents had been reported as of 5.30pm, said Maj Gen Jassim Al Marzqooi, head of civil defence at the ministry.

Maj Gen Maktoum Al Sharifi, deputy director general of Abu Dhabi Police, said its crisis management team was working around the clock to receive information on all areas to direct police units.

He urged the public to follow police advice and to report emergency situations to authorities.

Maj Gen Al Sharifi also stressed the necessity for parents to monitor their children during inclement weather. Parents were told to keep children away from areas where water has accumulated and prevent them from approaching generators, power plants and connects, as well as household electrical wiring.