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Heavy Snowfall on RAK Mountains

RAS AL KHAIMAH/DUBAI/SHARJAH - Snow fell heavily on the mountains of Ras Al Khaimah on Friday night, leaving the Jais Mountains covered in a thick white blanket of snow.

The extreme cold spell brought the temperature on top of the Jais Mountain cluster, situated at a height of 5,700 feet, to as low as -3 degree Celsius on Friday night, as the snow blanketed an area extending over five kilometres.

Major Saeed Rashid Al Yamahi, Manager of the Air Wing of RAK Police, who flew a helicopter to the rest house of Shaikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, on top of the Jais Mountain, said that the entire area was covered with 20cm of snow.

“The sight up there this morning was totally unbelievable with the snow-capped mountain and the entire area covered with fresh, dazzling white snow. The snowfall started at 3pm on Friday afternoon and heavy snowing began at 8pm and continued till midnight, covering the entire area in a thick blanket of snow,” he said.

The temperature on top of the mountain cluster remained extremely cold during the daytime yesterday with the temperature rising to just 1 degree Celsius in the afternoon. “Much of the snow was still there even when we flew back from the mountain this afternoon. It is still freezing cold up there and there are chances that it might snow again today night,” Major Al Yamahi added.

M V Varghese, an Observer at the RAK Airport Meteorological Office, said that there were scattered rains in Ras Al Khaimah last night which brought the temperature down. “The rain along with the cold easterly winds and low lying clouds could have brought the temperatures further down on the mountains,” he said.

Ras Al Khaimah had experienced heavy snowing on Jebel Jais mountains four years ago on December 28, 2004.

“I had flown there in 2004 when it snowed, but this time it was much bigger and the snowing lasted longer as well, Major Al Yamahi added.

The Jais Mountain cluster is situated around 25 kilometres from Ras Al Khaimah City and normally has significantly lower temperatures even during the peak summer months. Ras Al Khaimah has plans to capitalise on the attractive climate and spectacular scenery of Jebel Jais by building a mountain resort and ski slope on top of the mountains.

Meanwhile, Khaleej Times reader Syed Zahid Zahoor said hail fell in Sharjah’s Al Khan area for approximately 20 minutes on Saturday.

While the Dubai Meteorological Office did not record any hail, forecaster on duty on Saturday evening Georgio Alessio said the radar showed highly reflective clouds, an indication that they could contain hail.