Winds, Rain and Snow Cause Chaos in the UAE | ExpatWoman.com
 

Winds, Rain and Snow Cause Chaos in the UAE

Low temperatures across the country brought with it strong winds, rain and even snow.

Posted on

5 February 2017

Last updated on 14 January 2020
Winds, Rain and Snow Cause Chaos in the UAE

Residents and visitors to the Northern Emirates were treated to snowfall over the past few days, with Jebel Jais transforming into a winter wonderland to enjoy.

Nonetheless, for those of us in Dubai and the more southern parts of the country, the change of weather brought only wind-swept looks, partial flooding, re-scheduled events and even caused a fire on SZR. For us seasoned residents living in the Emirate, we know just how much a spot of rain and wind can be a little unmanageable for our city. 



Image: Instagram @swdesq - A collapsed crane damages the Nassima Royal Hotel entrance and sign

Opinions towards the change in weather is always divided; a lot of residents here rejoice over the cooler temperatures, and welcome any rain to give our normally hot and humid climate a break. On the other hand, the rest of us dread the thought of potential flooding, and breezes strong enough to blow our garden furniture around.

There's no denying that rain in the country is always pleasant to witness, but when you're trying to get from A to B in a car or on foot, or even on public transport, things can prove a little more difficult than usual

SEE ALSO: 13 potential scenarios if it did snow in Dubai

Like for the drivers who were stranded on Palm Jumeirah on Friday (2nd February), who witnessed hazardous waves and floods on our beloved island... (You might want to turn your volume down, the wind is a little loud in these videos). 





 

#palmjumeirah #crescentroad #giganticwaves

A video posted by Ahmed Siddiqui(@ahmedshabeeh) on



The waves surrounding the Palm Jumeirah were so large in fact, that parts of the island's roads were blocked off for the safety of drivers... And those brave enough to take a walk along the boardwalk. Residents of course, quickly took to social media to share the fact they were stranded on the island, unable to get off. Which probably wasn't a huge deal for brunch-goers on Friday. 

SEE ALSO: In pictures... Dubai's week of foggy mornings

Elsewhere in the city, the unusually strong winds were too much for a crane alongside Sheikh Zayed Road. As a result, the crane toppled, which injured one person, damaged the front of the Nassima Royal Hotel and several vehicles. 



To help matters, the wind then blew debris, which included sheets of steel, wood and glass onto both Sheikh Zayed Road itself and the surrounding areas of the hotel. The Dubai Metro was also temporarily suspended between Jafilyah and Business Bay stations, which RTA announced as a safety precaution. 

 

A video posted by Danny Adams (@dannyadamsuk) on



 

A photo posted by Stu ♦️ (@swdesq) on



Elsewhere in the north of the country, residents were treated to snowfall. But while they're images capture a magnificent, peaceful snow-covered Jebel Jais mountain, the reality of things proved a little more stressful. 

A large number of people rushed to the mountain to try and witness the snowy view, which of course resulted in traffic jams and tail-backs on the roads. 



Elsewhere, Global Village closed to the public on Friday and Virgin Radio's RedFestDXB event was re-scheduled to Saturday due to concerns over the safety of event-goers. And we can only imagine how many trees fell down...

Have you got any insane videos or pictures of the freaky weather from the past few days? Share them online and tag us using #ExpatWoman so we can see! 

 
 

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