On Tuesday, October 21, the UAE was hit with another bout of intense rain. Online videos captured the relentless rainfall transforming mountain roads and wadis into rushing rivers.
Seeing the muddy torrents rushing by, it’s hard to imagine these as roads meant for cars rather than perennial rivers.
The UAE’s National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) had previously forecast that starting Tuesday, cloud cover would lead to rainfall in the eastern and southeastern regions. This is due to a low-pressure system that has been influencing the country for weeks, expected to continue bringing rain and cooler temperatures long before winter officially arrives.
Rainwater cascading off cliffs and rocks can gather into overflowing pools, creating temporary waterfalls. Such conditions also raise the risk of rockfall.
UAE authorities consistently warn motorists and pedestrians against venturing into these mountainous areas during unstable weather, as it can result in property damage, injuries, or even fatalities.
