DUBAI, UAE. Emirates Airlines faced a wave of cancellations and delays as heavy rains pounded Dubai, the world’s second-busiest international airport, prompting disruptions in travel plans on Thursday. With the return of inclement weather, authorities advised residents to hunker down at home, suspending schools and offices across the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
This deluge arrives merely two weeks after unprecedented rainfall wreaked havoc in various parts of the UAE and neighboring Oman, resulting in tragic fatalities and paralyzing Dubai’s bustling metropolis. The previous floods claimed the lives of at least four individuals in the UAE and an additional 19 in Oman, including ten schoolchildren tragically swept away in a bus.
Visuals captured from Ras Al-Khaimah, a coastal city in the UAE, depicted scenes of palm trees bending under fierce winds, accompanied by relentless downpours and flashes of lightning.
Although the precipitation was not as severe as the earlier event, Dubai endured 20 millimeters of rain within 12 hours—more than double its usual accumulation for the months of April and May combined. Similarly, Abu Dhabi witnessed a downpour of 34 mm in just 24 hours, surpassing its typical April-May rainfall by over fourfold.
Residents appeared to be better equipped to handle the onslaught this time around. Ahead of the anticipated rainfall, maintenance crews were seen clearing drains in Dubai’s streets, while widespread emergency alerts were issued, cautioning residents to remain indoors whenever possible.
In response to the weather forecast, authorities mandated remote work and remote learning arrangements for affected regions on Thursday and Friday. Additionally, access to flood-prone valley areas was restricted, and residents were advised to steer clear of mountainous, desert, and coastal zones.
Scientists have pointed to climate change as a significant factor behind the recent spate of extreme weather events in the UAE and Oman. According to findings by a team of 21 researchers affiliated with the World Weather Attribution initiative, climate change has amplified the intensity of rainfall events in these regions by up to 40%. The unprecedented rainfall experienced less than a fortnight ago marked the heaviest recorded in the UAE’s 75-year history, with Dubai enduring rainfall equivalent to over a year and a half’s average precipitation in less than 24 hours.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
