Heavy rain and hail hit parts of the UAE on Saturday, with strong winds causing trees to uproot in some areas.
Downpours fell in Al Ain, with flooding reported in Al Fou’ah area, causing motorists to pull over as traffic was brought to a standstill.
Abu Dhabi resident Matthew Walker, 46, was at the summit of Jebel Hafeet, one of the UAE's highest mountains, when the temperature dropped sharply and the rain and hail started.
We pulled into a hotel at the top of the mountain at about 4.30pm and within minutes the skies turned eerily grey and the lightning and thunder started
"I remember checking the temperature gauge in the car when we were in Al Ain city and it was 47°C. At the summit it dropped to 38°C then down to 16°C when the rain started," he said.
"We pulled into a hotel at the top of the mountain at about 4.30pm and within minutes the skies turned eerily grey and the lightning and thunder started.
"The rain and hail was torrential, it was battering my car. After about 30 minutes or so we decided to leave and make our way down the mountain.
“There was a deluge of water cascading on to the road and there was a rock fall too. People were pulling over in their cars and taking videos because it was weird to see such a thunderstorm in the middle of June in the UAE.”
At the foot of Jebel Hafeet, Mr Walker, a business development manager, said police were directing traffic around trees that fallen onto the road. Traffic lights in some areas were also down due to the battering wind and rain.
Videos posted to the National Centre of Meteorology's social media showed rainwater racing down wadi beds and roads.
In some areas, cars were at a standstill as the torrential downpours and hail reduced visibility.
Lightning was also recorded on videos, with crashing thunder heard shortly after each flash.
The storm lasted for about 90 minutes before calm was restored. Mr Walker said at about 6.30pm the temperature gauge in his car climbed back up to the high 30s.
Muggy start to the week
Dr Ahmad Habib, of the NCM, said the rain in Al Ain could continue for a few more days.
“The cloud formation reported in Al Ain on Saturday was caused by an easterly flow coming from the Oman Sea and the Arabian Gulf,” he said.
“It caused moderate to heavy rain, but this is normal for this time of the year.
“At the start of summer weather like this is associated with an easterly flow and it is an extension of the monsoon-type conditions witnessed in places like India.”
He said humidity levels reached about 95 per cent in Al Ain during the rain, but will slowly drop to about 80 per cent over the next few days.
Residents across the UAE woke to a muggy morning on Sunday, as humidity levels reached 89 per cent in Abu Dhabi in the early hours.
These levels will slowly ease to about 75 to 80 per cent by Tuesday.
Maximum temperatures in Dubai and Abu Dhabi during the afternoon on Sunday will be between 40°C to 42°C.
The mercury will slightly climb on Monday and Tuesday, with maximum temperatures reaching between 42°C to 45°C.
Expected forecast for the coming days
Sunday – Humid with a chance of fog or mist forming by the morning over some western areas.
Fair in general and partly cloudy at times. A chance of convective clouds – formed by warm air rising – by afternoon, eastward, with an increase in temperatures to reach the early forties.
Wind will be light to moderate, south-easterly to north-easterly and north-westerly, freshening at times with a speed of about 15 to 25 kilometres an hour reaching 40kmph in some areas.
The sea will be slight to moderate in the Arabian Gulf and slight in the Oman Sea.
Monday – Humidity will continue into Monday morning, especially in coastal areas, where it will likely reach 80 per cent, but will ease by late morning and early afternoon.
It will be fair in general and hazy at times in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. A probability of convective clouds formation eastward by the afternoon, especially in internal areas.
Wind will remain light to moderate, south-easterly to north-easterly, freshening at times eastwards.
Tuesday – It will be fair in general and hazy at times during daytime. Visibility on the roads may impaired during the early morning hours due to haze and humidity, which will reach about 70 per cent. There is a possibility of convective clouds forming by late afternoon, eastward, and it may be rainy in the interior.
Wind speeds throughout the day likely to reach between 15kph to 25kph, with a south-easterly to north-easterly breeze causing blowing dust and sand.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
About Krews
Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: January 2019
Number of employees: 10
Sector: Technology/Social media
Funding to date: Estimated $300,000 from Hub71 in-kind support
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Day 4, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage appeared to have been hard done by when he had his dismissal of Sami Aslam chalked off for a no-ball. Replays suggested he had not overstepped. No matter. Two balls later, the exact same combination – Gamage the bowler and Kusal Mendis at second slip – combined again to send Aslam back.
Stat of the day Haris Sohail took three wickets for one run in the only over he bowled, to end the Sri Lanka second innings in a hurry. That was as many as he had managed in total in his 10-year, 58-match first-class career to date. It was also the first time a bowler had taken three wickets having bowled just one over in an innings in Tests.
The verdict Just 119 more and with five wickets remaining seems like a perfectly attainable target for Pakistan. Factor in the fact the pitch is worn, is turning prodigiously, and that Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers have also been finding the strip to their liking, it is apparent the task is still a tough one. Still, though, thanks to Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed, it is possible.
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
How to keep control of your emotions
If your investment decisions are being dictated by emotions such as fear, greed, hope, frustration and boredom, it is time for a rethink, Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG, says.
Greed
Greedy investors trade beyond their means, open more positions than usual or hold on to positions too long to chase an even greater gain. “All too often, they incur a heavy loss and may even wipe out the profit already made.
Tip: Ignore the short-term hype, noise and froth and invest for the long-term plan, based on sound fundamentals.
Fear
The risk of making a loss can cloud decision-making. “This can cause you to close out a position too early, or miss out on a profit by being too afraid to open a trade,” he says.
Tip: Start with a plan, and stick to it. For added security, consider placing stops to reduce any losses and limits to lock in profits.
Hope
While all traders need hope to start trading, excessive optimism can backfire. Too many traders hold on to a losing trade because they believe that it will reverse its trend and become profitable.
Tip: Set realistic goals. Be happy with what you have earned, rather than frustrated by what you could have earned.
Frustration
Traders can get annoyed when the markets have behaved in unexpected ways and generates losses or fails to deliver anticipated gains.
Tip: Accept in advance that asset price movements are completely unpredictable and you will suffer losses at some point. These can be managed, say, by attaching stops and limits to your trades.
Boredom
Too many investors buy and sell because they want something to do. They are trading as entertainment, rather than in the hope of making money. As well as making bad decisions, the extra dealing charges eat into returns.
Tip: Open an online demo account and get your thrills without risking real money.
OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
The%20Secret%20Kingdom%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Matt%20Drummond%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlyla%20Browne%2C%20Alice%20Parkinson%2C%20Sam%20Everingham%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
1 Man City 26 20 3 3 63 17 63
2 Liverpool 25 17 6 2 64 20 57
3 Chelsea 25 14 8 3 49 18 50
4 Man Utd 26 13 7 6 44 34 46
----------------------------------------
5 West Ham 26 12 6 8 45 34 42
----------------------------------------
6 Arsenal 23 13 3 7 36 26 42
7 Wolves 24 12 4 8 23 18 40
8 Tottenham 23 12 4 8 31 31 39
