Hail, heavy rains hit parts of UAE as unstable weather grips region

Residents of parts of the UAE saw heavy rains and even hail on Monday, August 3, as the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) expected five days of rainfall over some regions in the country as atmospheric conditions support the formation of convective clouds.

The wider Gulf region will also witness unstable weather this week, with authorities in countries like Saudi Arabia and Oman warning of continued thunderstorms in several places.

Visuals shared by the UAE's Storm Centre, a weather-tracking channel on X, showed heavy hail falling on car windshields along Al Dhaid Road in Sharjah on Monday, August 3. In one video, the sound of hailstones striking the road can be clearly heard. Watch here:

To alert residents on what to do in the event of hail falling, the national weather authority issued an advisory, calling on people to follow safety measures, take all necessary precautions and follow local authorities regulations and instructions.

Residents are also urged to follow weather forecasts via official channels and be ready to comply with instructions issued by relevant authorities. They are urged to refrain from spreading rumours and follow NCM's official reports.

Weather systems in the region are drawing moisture from the Sea of Oman. Combined with rising temperatures and the influence of the eastern mountains, this is expected to produce local convective clouds over parts of the country, particularly during the afternoon. The clouds could bring rainfall of varying intensity, the NCM said.

The weather in the UAE will be affected by an extension of surface low-pressure system from the east will affect weather conditions. In addition, the weather will be impacted by an extension of a weak upper-air low-pressure system.

Despite the rain forecast, temperatures will remain high. Maximum temperatures could reach between 45°C and 50°C in internal areas on Monday, while coastal and island locations could record highs of 42°C to 47°C. Mountain temperatures are expected to range from 33°C to 39°C.

On Tuesday, August 4,  temperatures nationwide will range between 30°C and 47°C, with an expected high of 45°C and 46°C in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, respectively.

Saudi Arabia's National Center for Meteorology (NCM) forecast thunderstorms across parts of Asir, Jazan, Al Baha, the Makkah highlands and Najran through the end of the week. It The urged residents to monitor its latest forecasts and weather alerts via its website, the Anwaa app and official social media channels.

In Oman, heavy thunderstorms are expected to persist over the Hajar Mountains, with rain-bearing clouds extending into parts of the North Al Sharqiyah, South Al Sharqiyah and Al Dhahirah governorates. Authorities said cumulonimbus clouds will continue to develop over the Hajar range, bringing scattered showers, thunderstorms and strong winds, with conditions likely to expand to additional areas in the coming period.

Yasmin Hussein is an Assistant Digital Editor who believes that every news story carries a human element. Her motto is 'get it first, but first get it right'.