weather
Weather tracker: Thunderstorms drench UAE and Saudi Arabia
Abnormally strong jet stream triggers deluge in Middle East, while north Africa braces for 60-80mph gusts
TL;DR
- Severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall impacted the UAE and Saudi Arabia, countries typically characterized by arid desert climates.
- Rainfall totals in some parts of the Arabian Peninsula reached up to 150mm in a few days, significantly exceeding average annual amounts.
- The extreme weather was attributed to an abnormally strong jet stream that facilitated the development of a deep low-pressure system, drawing moist air from the Indian Ocean.
- Oman experienced hailstones as large as tennis balls, while Doha, Qatar, faced flooding.
- The UAE saw organized thunderstorms with gusts up to 80mph, large hail, and intense lightning, leading to widespread flooding in areas like Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
- While thunderstorms are not uncommon, the multiday nature of this deluge is more typical of patterns seen in the US and central Europe.
- The event aligns with a global trend of intensifying rainfall from storms due to climate warming.
- Attention is now shifting to the Mediterranean, with a low-pressure system expected to bring heavy rain and thunderstorms to Greece, Turkey, and southeastern Europe, as well as potential 60-80mph gusts to parts of North Africa, including Libya.