Historic flooding in the United Arab Emirates has led to the closure of Dubai’s airport and schools canceling classes. The rain began late Monday, April 15, and by the night of Tuesday, April 17, Dubai had received more than 6 inches of rain in over 24 hours, far surpassing the city’s average annual rainfall of just over 3 inches.
Emirates airline halted check-in for all flights departing from Dubai from 8 a.m. to midnight on Wednesday, April 17, while Fly Dubai also suspended flights until 10 a.m. on April 17 due to extreme weather. Al Ain recorded the highest rainfall in the UAE at 10 inches in less than 24 hours, marking a 75-year high for the country.
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In response, the government issued a red warning, closing offices and banks nationwide, and the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Authority urged residents to stay indoors and protect their property from potential flood and hail damage.
At least one person was killed in the floodwaters. The state-run news agency described the rainfall as a “historic weather event” that surpassed “anything documented since the start of data collection in 1949.”
The storm also hit other parts of the Middle East, leading to at least 19 deaths in Oman.
[KARAH RUCKER]
HISTORIC FLOODING IN THE DESERT NATION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – LED TO THE CLOSURE OF DUBAI’S AIRPORT — AND SCHOOLS TO CANCEL CLASSES.
THE RAIN BEGAN LATE MONDAY – AND BY TUESDAY NIGHT – DUBAI HAD RECEIVED MORE THAN 6 INCHES OF RAIN IN OVER 24 HOURS.
TO PUT IN PERSPECTIVE — THE CITY SEES JUST OVER 3 INCHES OF RAIN IN AN AVERAGE YEAR.
AT LEAST ONE PERSON WAS KILLED IN THE FLOODWATERS.
THE STATE-RUN NEWS AGENCY CALLed THE RAINFALL “A HISTORIC WEATHER EVENT” THAT SURPASSED “ANYTHING DOCUMENTED SINCE THE START OF DATA COLLECTION IN 1949.”
THE STORM HIT OTHER PARTS OF THE MIDDLE EAST AS WELL – BEING BLAMED FOR AT LEAST 19 DEATHS IN THE COUNTRY OF OMAN.
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