Dubai Experiences Heaviest Rainfall Ever Recorded Since 1949

Over April 15th and April 16th, Dubai has been inundated by heavy thunderstorms, which dropped the heaviest rain ever recorded on the country since record began in 1949. The storm, which also affected several other emirates as well as Oman, flooded large areas of main highways, as well as the tarmac at Dubai’s International Airport, the busiest in the world.

The state-run WAM news agency described the storm as a ‘historic weather event’, with more than five and a half inches of rainfall soaking Dubai over 24 hours. Over the course of an entire year, the emirate usually sees less than four inches of rain on average.

As well as drastically affecting roads, Dubai’s driverless Metro system also saw flooding and disruptions. Schools across the UAE were largely shut ahead of the storm, with government employees instructed to work remotely. Closure of educational facilities has been extended to April 17th as authorities work to clear the flooding and ensuing damage, with trucks deployed to pump flood water away from roads and areas lacking drainage.