Unprecedented Rainfall in the UAE
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: The United Arab Emirates attempted to dry out Wednesday from the heaviest rain the desert nation has ever recorded — a deluge that flooded out Dubai International Airport and disrupted flights through the world’s busiest airfield for international travel.
Historic Weather Event
The state-run WAM news agency called the rain Tuesday “a historic weather event” that surpassed “anything documented since the start of data collection in 1949.” Rain also fell in Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, but was acute across the UAE.
Speculation and Expert Opinions
The flooding sparked speculation about cloud seeding potentially contributing to the deluge. However, experts stated that the storm systems were forecasted in advance and that cloud seeding alone would not have caused such flooding.
- Several reports quoted meteorologists at the National Center for Meteorology as saying they flew cloud-seeding flights before the rains.
- Jeff Masters, a meteorologist, attributed the flooding to an unusually strong low-pressure system.
- Steven Siems of Australia’s Monash University agreed that the size of the storm made any seeding effort pointless.
Climate Change Impact
Scientists suggest that climate change is responsible for more intense and frequent extreme weather events globally. Dubai, a city already facing rising temperatures, hosted the United Nations’ COP28 climate talks recently.
Rainfall Statistics
The rains began late Monday, with over 142 millimeters (5.59 inches) of rainfall soaking Dubai over 24 hours. An average year sees 94.7 millimeters (3.73 inches) of rain at Dubai International Airport.
Impact on Dubai International Airport
Passengers faced challenges as arrivals were halted, and the airport experienced major disruptions. Standing water on taxiways and overwhelmed city roads added to the chaos.
- Emirates and FlyDubai, major carriers, were significantly impacted by the flooding.
- Paul Griffiths, the airport’s CEO, acknowledged continued issues with flooding affecting flight operations.
