Watch Timelapse Of Dubai's Record-Breaking Thunderstorm And Flooding

Dubai, known for its arid climate and futuristic skyline, witnessed an unusual event on the night of April 16th. A thunderstorm of unprecedented intensity descended upon the city, drenching it in a deluge that lasted well into the next day.

The thunderstorm began around midnight, a time when the city is usually asleep. However, the raging storm roused Dubai from its slumber, as thunder roared and lightning danced across the sky. The rain poured relentlessly, in multiple heavy spells, transforming the desert landscape into a temporary waterworld.

One of the most severe periods of the storm occurred between 5:30 PM and 6:30 PM the following evening. During this time, the rain was accompanied by fierce winds, with gusts reaching speeds of 40-50 mph, causing havoc in its wake.

The impact of the storm was felt across the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with Dubai bearing the brunt of nature's fury. The city, known for its modern infrastructure and resilience, struggled to cope with the onslaught of water. Major highways were flooded, and even the international airport was not spared. Operations at Dubai airport were temporarily suspended for 25 minutes as authorities grappled with the aftermath of the storm.

Meteorological data collected at Dubai International Airport revealed the extent of the rainfall. In just 24 hours, Dubai received a staggering amount of rain, equivalent to what it normally receives in a year and a half. The storm began with 20 millimeters (0.79 inches) of rain late Monday and intensified over Tuesday, culminating in over 142 millimeters (5.59 inches) of rainfall by the day's end. To put this into perspective, Dubai typically receives an average of 94.7 millimeters (3.73 inches) of rain in an entire year.

Cloud seeding?

Experts attributed the intensity of the storm to cloud seeding, a weather modification technique used to enhance precipitation. Cloud seeding involves the introduction of certain chemicals into clouds to stimulate the formation of raindrops. While controversial, cloud seeding has been used in various countries to mitigate the effects of drought and increase rainfall.

Meanwhile, heavy rains were also recorded in neighbouring Oman and southeastern Iran. Recently, Oman experienced severe flooding due to heavy rainfall, resulting in the tragic loss of 18 lives.

Friederike Otto, a prominent figure in assessing the impact of climate change on extreme weather events, linked global warming to the abnormal rainfall. As a climatologist and Professor at the Grantham Institute for Climate Change, Otto stated, "It is highly likely that the deadly and destructive rain in Oman and Dubai was intensified by human-caused climate change," as reported by AFP.