UAE braces for more rain and thunderstorms, flights cancelled, alerts issued

DUBAI: Heavy rain and thunderstorms struck the UAE again. An orange alert was issued in the country yesterday, but the rains eased in the afternoon. A yellow alert remains in effect for most areas. According to the Meteorological Department, over 50 mm of rain fell between Wednesday night and 8 am yesterday. Some areas of Dubai experienced flooding. Water tankers and pumping machines were deployed to promptly address waterlogged areas including Dubai and Sharjah following the earlier rain warning.

13 flights were cancelled at Dubai International Airport, with five being diverted. Emirates and Fly Dubai airlines have cautioned passengers about potential delays. Online classes were announced in schools for yesterday and today and government and public sector offices were instructed to work from home. Parks and beaches are closed. In Ras Al Khaimah, a section of road collapsed causing traffic disruptions. The warning is that rain may continue today.

On April 16, 259.5 mm of rainfall caused significant damage in the country. Four people died, including one local resident and three Filipinos. Dubai airport operations were affected with over 2,000 flights cancelled.