There is no guarantee that such goods are safe for consumption, says the authority
uae12 hours ago
The landspout that formed on Wednesday (October 23) in Ras Al Khaimah’s Khedira area “is different from a tornado and is not classified as a dangerous weather phenomenon”, the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) clarified on Thursday.
In a statement sent to Khaleej Times, NCM said: “The landspout that formed yesterday attracted a lot of attention, especially with videos and photos being circulated, which might have made it seem like a tornado. However, it is different from a tornado.”
NCM explained a land spout is not as strong as a tornado that causes damage.
“A landspout is similar to a waterspout – as both form from the ground (or water) up to the cloud,” explained the spokesperson for the UAE weather bureau, adding: “It is difficult to detect land spouts and waterspouts with radar because they are low, small in size, and weak in intensity.”
Watch the video below:
This is why NCM usually relies on public reports to record their occurrence.
NCM added: “A land spout has two different air masses meeting, each with distinct physical properties, and the presence of vertical rotation near the ground. As a result, the landspout is weak and lasts for a short period. Sometimes it is accompanied by strong winds that lift dust and sand into the air.”
Meanwhile, a tornado – which is more violent – “usually forms due to a rotating upward current inside a thunderstorm, while a land spout forms when the thunderstorm is in its developing stage.”
Huge land spouts, which appear like tornados, were spotted in Kalba, Ras Al Khaimah in videos the NCM shared on Wednesday. Rains could be seen showering the area as massive dust formations could be seen swirling across the location.
Some parts of the UAE also witnessed a massive storm on Wednesday. Authorities took to social media to warn residents of moderate to heavy rains.
ALSO READ:
There is no guarantee that such goods are safe for consumption, says the authority
uae12 hours ago
The move is part of an energy efficiency project launched by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and the Awqaf
uae12 hours ago
The city's municipality has designated about 253 places for barbecue within 28 parks and gardens inside and outside Abu Dhabi Island
uae13 hours ago
Earlier, travellers were provided with an alternative bus service between the affected stations
uae14 hours ago
While 75 per cent of UAE employees believed they could identify a deepfake, only 37 per cent were able to identify real and AI-generated images during an experiment
uae15 hours ago
However, some expats raised concerns that online voting can be manipulated or tampered with
uae18 hours ago
For the pilots involved, the emotional impact of these rescues often linger long after the mission concludes
uae18 hours ago
Nearly a third of organisations reported lower employee turnover rates, illustrating that this is also a tool for sustained organisational success
uae18 hours ago