Tuesday, 30 April 2024
Tuesday, 30 April 2024
An SUV stalls out while trying to pass through standing water in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Heavy thunderstorms lashed the United Arab Emirates, dumping over a year and a half's worth of rain on the desert city-state of Dubai in the span of hours as it flooded out portions of major highways and its international airport.
The rains began late on April 15, soaking the sands and roadways of Dubai with some 20 millimetres (0.79 inches) of rain, according to meteorological data collected at Dubai International Airport. The storms intensified around 9 a.m. local on April 16 and continued throughout the day, dumping more rain and hail onto the overwhelmed city.
By the end of April 16, more than 142 millimetres (5.59 inches) of rainfall had soaked Dubai over 24 hours. An average year sees 94.7 millimetres (3.73 inches) of rain at Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest for international travel and a hub for the long-haul carrier Emirates. At the airport, standing water lapped on taxiways as aircraft landed. The airport ended up halting arrivals on April 16 night and passengers struggled to reach terminals through the floodwater covering surrounding roads.
The city's driverless Metro saw disruptions and flooded stations as well. Schools across the UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms, largely shut ahead of the storm and government employees were largely working remotely if able.
Police and emergency personnel drove slowly through the flooded streets of Dubai, their emergency lights shining across the darkened roads. Many workers stayed home as well, though some ventured out, with the unfortunate stalling out their vehicles in deeper-than-expected water covering some roads.
Rain is unusual in the UAE, an arid, Arabian Peninsula nation, but occurs periodically during the cooler winter months. Many roads and other areas lack drainage given the lack of regular rainfall, causing flooding.
