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Watch: Residents alerted as hail, thunderstorms, heavy rains hit parts of Kuwait

Authorities urge motorists to be cautious amid turbulent weather and closure of many key roads

Published: Tue 27 Dec 2022, 11:44 PM

Updated: Tue 27 Dec 2022, 11:47 PM

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Residents in Kuwait experienced freak weather on Tuesday as the Gulf country was hit by heavy rains accompanied by lightning, thunder and hail storms. Temperatures also dipped, and waterlogging hampered pedestrian and transport movement.

Social media platforms are flooded with photos and videos of roads covered in hail and people enjoying the sudden change in weather, while motorists endured bumper-to-bumper traffic on rain-soaked roads.

Kuwait’s weather department had forecast heavy but scattered rains accompanied by thunder across the country with hail over some areas. Wind speed will exceed 55 km/h, resulting a drop in visibility over some areas, and rough seas, it warned.

Authorities announced the closure of many key roads due to heavy rains resulting to waterlogging. The Ministry of Interior on Tuesday listed out the names of roads that have been closed so far:

  • Ahmadi Governorate — 1. Intersection of Mina Abdullah coming from King Abdul Aziz. 2. Shuaiba intersection coming from the city towards Nusaib
  • Highways — 1. Shuaiba port intersection towards Nuwaiseeb on King Abdul Aziz. 2. King Issa towards Medina before Istiklal intersection
  • Farwaniya Governorate — 1. Nations Roundabout descends on the Fourth Ring Road towards the Salmiya area. 2. Airport Road parallel to Farwaniya area
  • Jahra Governorate — 1. Sixth Ring Road, exiting Saad Al-Abdullah area
  • Capital Governorate — 1. Al-Jahra Road with Al-Ghazali Road towards City Centre

The Ministry of Interior Tuesday urged motorists and sea-goers to be cautious amid the current turbulent weather across the country. In a press release, the ministry urged drivers to follow security authorities' guidelines for using alternative routes and avoiding roads swamped with puddles, calling on motorists to maintain safe distance from the vehicle in front.

Authorities also reminded parents to keep children on the back seat and urged residents to reach out for help on the phone number: 112. Sea-goers in distress can contact the Coast Guards on 1880888 to get aid.

Temperature to ‘drop’ below zero?

Member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences, Bader Al-Amira, announced that "temperatures are expected to reach below zero in the second half of January when the northwest winds begin to blow in the direction of the Arabian peninsula," reports Al-Rai daily.

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