Dubai, United Arab Emirates, found itself grappling with the aftermath of an unprecedented weather event on Wednesday as it worked to recover from the most significant rainfall ever documented in the nation’s history. The deluge inundated Dubai International Airport, causing widespread disruption to travel at the world’s busiest airfield for international flights. Described by the state-run WAM news agency as a “historic weather event,” the rainfall on Tuesday surpassed all records since data collection began in 1949.
The United Arab Emirates was thrown into chaos as it experienced the heaviest rainfall in 75 years, with certain areas receiving over 250 mm (approximately 10 inches) of rain within a 24-hour period, according to statements from the state’s media office on Wednesday.
The unprecedented downpour flooded streets, uprooted palm trees, and caused damage to building facades, marking an unparalleled event in the nation’s meteorological history. In Dubai, a popular tourist destination, flight operations were halted, traffic ground to a standstill, and schools were forced to close their doors.
Weather observations at the airport revealed that 100 millimeters (nearly 4 inches) of rain fell in just 12 hours on Tuesday, a quantity typically recorded over an entire year in Dubai, as per United Nations data. The aftermath of this extraordinary weather phenomenon underscores the challenges faced by the desert nation in managing such unprecedented natural events.
The intensity and rapidity of the rainfall were so extreme that some motorists found themselves compelled to abandon their vehicles as floodwaters surged, transforming roads into flowing rivers.
Such extreme rainfall events are increasingly frequent as human-induced climate change warms the atmosphere. The heightened temperature allows the atmosphere to absorb more moisture, acting akin to a sponge that can subsequently release it in the form of torrential rainfall, leading to flooding.
The weather phenomena were associated with a larger storm system that traversed the Arabian Peninsula and progressed across the Gulf of Oman. This same system brought abnormally wet conditions to neighboring Oman and southeastern Iran.
In Oman, the heavy rainfall triggered flash floods that claimed at least 18 lives, according to the country’s National Committee for Emergency Management. Among the casualties were schoolchildren, as reported by Oman’s state news agency.
Additionally, in the UAE’s Ras Al-Khaimah, a 70-year-old man lost his life after his vehicle was swept away by flooding, as confirmed by a police statement issued on Tuesday.
The precipitation persisted in its eastward trajectory on Wednesday, impacting regions of southern Iran and Pakistan, typically experiencing minimal rainfall during this season. Notably, Iran’s southernmost city of Chabahar, situated in the Sistan and Baluchestan province, recorded a remarkable 130 mm of rain.
Motorists attempting to travel towards the center of Dubai on Wednesday found themselves stranded on the city’s highway. Some taxi drivers declined to proceed further due to the roadblocks, leaving commuters marooned on Dubai’s main thoroughfare.
Affected commuters were observed navigating through extensive puddles, traversing the road on foot as they sought alternative modes of transportation. Among those stranded were individuals who had journeyed from overseas to attend the World Blockchain Summit, a cryptocurrency conference slated for the following week in Dubai.
The downpour commenced late Monday, saturating the sands and streets of Dubai with approximately 0.79 inches of rainfall, as per meteorological observations from Dubai International Airport. Intensifying around 9 a.m. local time on Tuesday, the storms persisted throughout the day, unleashing additional rain and hail upon the inundated city.
The aftermath of flooding significantly impacted operations at Dubai International Airport, as an unprecedented 5.59 inches of rainfall submerged the city within a 24-hour period by the end of Tuesday. This volume of precipitation far surpassed the airport’s average annual rainfall of 3.73 inches and posed immense challenges to one of the world’s busiest airfields, particularly for Emirates, the long-haul carrier heavily reliant on its operations.
Dramatic footage captured the airport’s tarmac transformed into a waterlogged expanse, with massive aircraft navigating through floodwaters resembling a waterway. Despite its stature as the second-busiest airport globally, the flooded runways presented a surreal scene as planes plowed through the inundated terrain, leaving waves in their wake and water spraying from their paths.
The repercussions of the deluge persisted even after the storm abated, as access roads leading to the airport remained impassable due to flooding. Major airlines, including Emirates, grappled with significant flight delays, while Flydubai went a step further, canceling all flights until 10 a.m. local time on Wednesday.
As the situation unfolded, Dubai International Airport issued a stern advisory on Wednesday morning, urging individuals to refrain from visiting the airport unless absolutely necessary. Flight schedules continued to be marred by delays and diversions, with standing water encroaching upon taxiways, complicating landing procedures. The challenges escalated further as arrivals were temporarily suspended on Tuesday night, leaving passengers stranded amid the floodwaters as they sought passage to the terminals.
Dubai International Airport experienced a tumultuous sequence of events, prompting a temporary suspension of operations lasting approximately 25 minutes on Tuesday afternoon. Subsequently, all arrivals were diverted until weather conditions improved, a measure aimed at ensuring passenger safety amid the unprecedented rainfall.
As late as Wednesday morning, both the airport management and Emirates, the flagship carrier, issued advisories urging travelers to avoid the airport unless absolutely necessary, citing the ongoing suspension of flight check-in services.
Flight operations remained significantly disrupted, with continued delays and diversions prompting authorities to advise passengers to verify their flight status directly with their respective airlines. Despite concerted efforts to restore normalcy, the airport faced formidable challenges in recovering operations swiftly amid the adverse weather conditions.
The situation at the airport was described by a couple, who spoke anonymously due to strict laws against critical speech, as “absolute carnage.” They highlighted the logistical chaos, including the unavailability of taxis and stranded individuals seeking refuge in the Metro station and airport premises.
Navigating through the turmoil, the couple attempted to reach their destination via taxi but encountered roadblocks due to floodwaters. However, their ordeal didn’t end there, as a kind bystander assisted them in traversing a highway barrier with their carry-on luggage, including bottles of gin acquired from a duty-free store, symbolizing the unexpected challenges faced by travelers amidst the unfolding crisis.
Recent rainfall has been observed in various countries across the Middle East, including Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. However, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) experienced particularly severe downpours. One potential contributing factor to this phenomenon is “cloud seeding,” a weather modification technique employed by the government.
Cloud seeding involves the deployment of small aircraft equipped with special salt flares, which are released into clouds to stimulate precipitation. Meteorologists at the National Center for Meteorology in the UAE reportedly conducted six or seven cloud-seeding flights prior to the onset of the heavy rains. While the center did not provide immediate clarification on this matter, flight-tracking data analyzed by the Associated Press (AP) revealed the activity of an aircraft affiliated with the UAE’s cloud-seeding operations on Sunday.
The UAE, facing water scarcity and relying heavily on energy-intensive desalination plants for freshwater supply, utilizes cloud seeding as a strategy to augment its limited groundwater resources. Although the exact extent of cloud seeding’s influence on the recent rainfall remains unclear, its implementation underscores the country’s proactive approach to water management amidst challenging climatic conditions.
As heavy rains inundated the United Arab Emirates (UAE), schools across the federation of seven sheikhdoms were compelled to close in anticipation of the storm. Government employees also transitioned to remote work arrangements wherever feasible. Despite these precautions, some individuals braved the inclement weather, only to find themselves stranded as their vehicles succumbed to the unexpectedly deep floodwaters engulfing certain roads.
To mitigate the flooding, authorities dispatched tanker trucks to pump water away from streets and highways. However, some homes were still inundated, necessitating residents to manually bail out water from their houses. While the country’s leadership refrained from providing comprehensive damage or injury assessments, reports emerged of individuals spending the night in flooded vehicles.
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Fujairah, situated on the UAE’s eastern coast, bore the brunt of the deluge, with rainfall reaching 5.7 inches on Tuesday. Consequently, authorities opted to cancel school and enforce remote work arrangements for Wednesday as a precautionary measure.
While rain is a rare occurrence in the UAE, particularly in its arid, desert climate, sporadic showers do occur during the cooler winter months. However, the lack of regular rainfall has resulted in inadequate drainage infrastructure across many roads and other areas, exacerbating the risk of flooding during periods of heavy precipitation.
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