Thamer Al Subaihi
Yasin Kakande
Rain, fog and wind slowed commuters down this morning in most parts of the UAE, bringing traffic to a complete standstill in some areas.
Motorists in Dubai began their work week on wet roads as Dubai police alerted drivers on their twitter account: “It is raining on some areas of #Dubai. Please slow down, drive carefully and leave enough space between vehicles.”
Abu Dhabi roads were not spared from heavy traffic either. Abu Dhabi Police took to twitter to urge motorists to drive cautiously due to rain on the highways, warning drivers of traffic congestion and delays on Sheikh Zayed road before Al Saada bridge heading towards the capital.
Several accidents due to weather conditions exacerbated road congestions in Dubai and Sharjah.
Dubai Police reported at least two accidents with one on Shiekh Zayed Road near Al Safa bridge towards Jebel Ali and another on Al Rabat road opposite Dubai Festival City heading towards Nad Al Hammar.
Most areas in Sharjah also experienced rain on Sunday.
Small floods were reported in the industrial areas and Sharjah Municipality workers were deployed to clear the roads.
Yousef Al Ahmad, the director of environmental services at the municipality, said the emergency committee was on a standby.
He urged the public to report floods in their neighbourhoods to the municipality toll free number 993.
On social media, residents reported heavy traffic coming out of Discovery Gardens as well as traffic slowing to a crawl on the way into Dubai from Sharjah, with some posting pictures of accidents. One showed an overturned sedan in Sharjah at the Ring Road road exit from Maliha Road.
Gusty winds, heavy rains and fog in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the Northern Emirates have created adverse road conditions throughout most of the Emirates with the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology issuing warnings across the country. Al Gharbia also experienced rainfall, with the threat of more showers throughout the day, state news agency Wam said.
The centre had forecast isolated thundershowers this morning with a 60 per cent chance of rain as well as winds reaching 18kph.
It warned of low visibility as a result of raised dust and issued aerodrome warnings due to wind shear.
Seafarers were also cautioned about heading out to the Arabian Gulf and Arabian Sea on Sunday due to unfavourable marine conditions.
tsubaihi@thenational.ae
ykakande@thenational.ae
