Occasional Heavy Rainfall in the Arid UAE: What Led to This Unusual Weather Phenomenon?
1 min read 2024-04-18, 12:30 AM IST
In Short UAE experiences heaviest rainfall on record following severe thunderstorm on April 15th. Event deemed historic by state-run WAM news agency, surpassing previous data since 1949. Unusual for UAE’s arid climate, heavy rains occur occasionally in cooler months. Dubai hit hardest, with over 142 mm of rain in one day, equivalent to a year and a half of average rainfall. Chaos ensues at Dubai International Airport, major roads flooded, homes damaged. |
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently experienced its heaviest rainfall on record, following a severe thunderstorm that struck the country late on Monday, April 15th. The storm resulted in at least one fatality, inflicted damage to homes and businesses, and brought air travel to a halt in Dubai.
According to the state-run WAM news agency, the rainfall constituted a “historic weather event,” surpassing any previously documented data since records began in 1949, predating the UAE’s establishment in 1971.
While heavy rains are uncommon in the arid UAE, they occasionally occur during the cooler winter months. This event, however, was exceptional in its intensity and impact. Here’s a detailed look at what transpired, the factors contributing to the unprecedented rainfall, and the question of whether climate change played a role.
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What Happened?
The thunderstorms began on Monday night and by Tuesday evening had dumped more than 142 millimeters (mm) of rain on the desert city of Dubai. This amount of rainfall typically takes a year and a half to accumulate. The Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest airports with over 80 million visitors in 2023, recorded an average yearly rainfall of 94.7 millimeters. Reports from the Associated Press described chaotic scenes at the airport, with stranded travelers struggling to secure transportation and accommodation.
Across Dubai, homes were flooded, and vehicles were abandoned on inundated roadways. Major shopping centers such as Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates were also affected. Tanker trucks were dispatched to pump out water from streets and highways.
The city of Al Ain, located approximately 130 kilometers away from Dubai, experienced a record-breaking rainfall of 254 mm, while Fujairah on the eastern coast saw 145 mm of rain on Tuesday.(also read: Dubai Braces for Heavy Rain and Hail: Shift to Work-from-Home, Distance Learning Activated).
As a result of the adverse weather conditions, schools were closed across the UAE on Tuesday, and the Dubai government extended work-from-home arrangements for its employees until Wednesday.
In neighboring Oman, a severe downpour claimed the lives of 18 people, including several schoolchildren who were swept away in a vehicle during the flooding.
Factors Contributing to the Heavy Rains
The primary cause of the heavy rains was a storm system passing through the Arabian Peninsula and moving across the Gulf of Oman. Additionally, cloud seeding, a technique involving the aerial dispersion of salt mixtures into clouds to induce precipitation, may have contributed to the intensity of the rainfall. Meteorologists at the National Center for Meteorology reportedly conducted six or seven cloud-seeding flights before the onset of the rains.
In Short Cloud seeding may have intensified rainfall, with meteorologists conducting several flights prior to storm. Schools closed, work-from-home extended as UAE grapples with aftermath. Neighboring Oman also affected, with 18 fatalities reported. Experts suggest climate change may have exacerbated event, with rising temperatures increasing moisture in atmosphere. Attribution of specific weather events to climate change remains complex, highlighting need for adaptation measures. |
The Role of Climate Change
Experts have suggested that climate change may have exacerbated the extreme weather event. Rising global temperatures lead to increased evaporation of water from land and oceans, resulting in a warmer atmosphere capable of holding more moisture. Studies indicate that for every 1 degree Celsius rise in average temperature, the atmosphere can retain about 7% more moisture. This heightened moisture content can intensify the intensity, duration, and frequency of storms, leading to severe flooding events.
The UAE has experienced a significant increase in temperatures, with an average rise of almost 1.5 degrees Celsius over the past 60 years. This warming trend is primarily attributed to the escalating emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases since the Industrial Revolution.
However, attributing any specific extreme weather event solely to climate change is challenging. Multiple factors, including natural climate variability patterns like El Niño and La Niña, contribute to the occurrence of such events.
The unprecedented heavy rainfall in the UAE highlights the complex interplay between natural weather patterns and the impacts of climate change. While the immediate cause of the event was a potent storm system, factors such as cloud seeding and rising global temperatures likely exacerbated its intensity.
As climate change continues to influence weather patterns worldwide, it’s essential for governments and communities to prioritize adaptation and resilience measures to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events like the one experienced in the UAE.
