The United Arab Emirates (UAE) witnessed extensive flooding on Tuesday when storms unleashed more than a year and a half’s worth of rain within a few hours. This deluge inundated roads and even the international airport in Dubai, a major metropolis. While Pakistan is currently anticipating heavy rains and thunderstorms, the likelihood of a similar storm to that in Dubai hitting Pakistan is slim. However, it’s worth examining the circumstances in the UAE.
Traditionally, the UAE experiences minimal rainfall due to its arid desert climate. Nonetheless, a significant storm that meteorologists had been predicting for days swept across the country’s seven regions.
By the end of Tuesday, Dubai had received over 142 millimeters (5.59 inches) of rainfall in just 24 hours, far exceeding its average yearly rainfall of 94.7 millimeters (3.73 inches) at Dubai International Airport. Some areas in the country received even more precipitation. In neighboring Oman, severe floods have also occurred in recent days, resulting in at least 21 fatalities as of Thursday.
The drainage systems in the UAE struggled to cope with the deluge, leading to flooding in residential areas, commercial districts, and sections of the Sheikh Zayed Road highway in Dubai. State-run WAM news agency described the rainfall as “a historic weather event,” surpassing any recorded data since 1949.
There has been speculation on social media about cloud seeding, a method involving the manipulation of clouds to induce rain, being linked to the unprecedented rainfall. However, experts suggest that climate change likely played a significant role in the record-breaking rainfall. The primary cause of the heavy rains was a storm system passing through the Arabian Peninsula and traversing the Gulf of Oman.
However, according to a report by the AP, cloud seeding may have exacerbated the rains. Meteorologists at the National Center for Meteorology reportedly conducted several cloud-seeding flights before the onset of the rains.
What is the rain forecast in Pakistan?
As for the rain forecast in Pakistan, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued directives for authorities to prepare for intense rainfall and thunderstorms until April 29. Multiple weather models predict that Pakistan will experience a series of moderate to intense weather systems from April 17 to 29, bringing heavy rain, thunderstorms, and hailstorms to various parts of the country. The forecast details the expected impacts on different regions of Pakistan from April 17 to 29, highlighting the potential risks and duration of adverse weather conditions.
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