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UAE back to normal after rain disruptions

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has urged motorists to avoid using Sheikh Zayed Road due to water logging.

Published: Wed 9 Mar 2016, 11:00 PM

Updated: Thu 8 Dec 2022, 4:30 PM

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  • KT Team

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Life has returned to normal in UAE on Thursday after heavy rain that lashed the Emirates on Wednesday.

The National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) released the weather forecast for the upcoming days in the UAE.

According to NCMS:

The Intensity of instability conditions goes to be weakened gradually while the amounts of clouds will increase over scattered northern and eastern areas accompanied with towering clouds with chance of scattered rain/shower. Moderate to fresh winds in general. The relative humidity will increase during night and early morning especially the western internal areas.

RTA urges motorists to avoid Sheikh Zayed Road

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has urged motorists to avoid using Sheikh Zayed Road due to water logging. Commuters were requested to use alternate routes like Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed road and Emirates road.

"RTA is working hard to drain the water in that area for the traffic to return to normal at the earliest.

"RTA thanks all road users for their cooperation and apologizes for any delays encountered."

Chaotic rain brings life to a halt across UAE

Roof tops and billboards were blown off and pieces were seen flying on the streets and onto people's cars on Wednesday, when heavy rains in Abu Dhabi nearly turned into small tornados. Several office buildings were evacuated, including Shaikh Khalifa Complex, which houses Adnoc.

"We got a message late morning to evacuate the building, but since the lobby is not big enough for all the 20 floors employees, we were asked to go back to our offices again, but stay away from windows," a Gasco employee told Khaleej Times in anonymity. Other Abu Dhabi city employees, living on the outskirts, rushed home at lunch-time to deal with damages. "I got a phone call from my wife, saying that part of the house roof just got blown away," said Hamed Al Amri, an Emirati leaving in Shakhboot City.

Khalifa City, Shahama, Al Falah and Baniyas suffered damages, with house roofs collapsing and windows getting broken. Gems American Academy in Khalifa City was among them, with severe dam-ages, including broken windows.

Magda Candea, another Abu Dhabi resident, was driving from Shamkha to Abu Dhabi on Wednes-day morning, pretty much with the rain cloud. "It looked like a small tornado, everything was flying up in the air, trees were bending to the ground and one parking sign flew right across in front of me," Can-dea added.

RAK rocked by heavy showers

Ras Al Khaimah - Heavy showers lashed different parts of Ras Al Khaimah including Al Manei, Shawkah, Al Ghalila, Jais Mountain and Al Gheil areas and flooded the valleys, but residents welcomed the weather.

Twenty-one vehicles were towed by RAK police after being stuck in flooded valleys and 54 minor accidents were also reported. "No casualties have been reported though, but the public are re-quested to report any big ponds of water, particularly at low-level ar-eas and side roads," said Eng Ahmed Al Hammadi, Director- General of the RAK Department of Public Works and Services.. Brigadier Ghanim Ahmed Ghanim, Director-General of the Central Operations, RAK Police, said they had to close the road to the Jais Mountain.

Sharjah, Ajman braced for heavy rains

Sharjah/Ajman - Non-stop rain caused massive traffic congestions in Sharjah's main roads but the po-lice reported only minor accidents. Col. Abdulrahman Al Shawaf, Director of Patrol and Taffic at Sharjah Police, said the operation room has not recorded any serious accidents.

He added the police in-creased patrols to organise traffic movement and minimise conges-tion. Police officials in Ajman also said that they deployed more than 33 patrols in crowded areas and areas that were affected by water clogging. Riyad Al Aillan, Director-Gener-al of Sharjah Municipality said two committees were formed to meet the challenges caused by incessant rain.

Yahiya Al Reyaysa, Deputy Director of Ajman Municipality, said new intersections which had replaced a number of roundabouts helped in enhancing the drainage system.

Fujairah wadis flooded

Fujairah - Wadis in Fujairah were flooded after the heavy rains hit the eastern coast of the country.

The emirate experienced moder-ate to heavy rains for almost nine hours which resulted in the flood-ing of dams including Shawka and Al Hail; Wadi Mai and Wadi Sahm; Safad Al Tuween; Wadi Al Abadela; Al Halah; Thwban; Al Seijji; Mer-bah and Gadfa. The Fujairah police warned the public to stay away from flooded areas. The Fujairah Education Zone con-firmed that no school was affected by the heavy rain but students were sent home early yesterday.



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