A powerful storm system hit the main cities of the Arabian Peninsula. The slow-moving storm system brought extraordinary rainfall to the UAE, causing widespread flooding and disrupting traffic, with water levels well above annual averages in areas such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi. In April 2024, a slow-moving storm system hit the United Arab Emirates, bringing more than a year's worth of rainfall to some cities. Heavy rains triggered flash floods in the eastern part of the country, flooding roads and disrupting traffic.
Satellite image of the United Arab Emirates before the storm taken by Land Imager 2 on Landsat 9 on April 3, 2024.
Satellite image of the United Arab Emirates after a storm taken by Land Imager 2 on Landsat 9 on April 19, 2024.
The system first hit Oman on April 14 and continued to hit the UAE for much of April 16. Michael Mann, a climate scientist at the University of Pennsylvania, said that three low-pressure systems form a storm train that slowly moves towards the Persian Gulf along the jet stream (the river of air that moves the weather system). A strong low-pressure system brought multiple rounds of high winds and heavy rains to the northern and eastern parts of the country.
On April 19, when Landsat 9 passed the area for the first time since the storm, some areas were still flooded. The image above (bottom) was taken that day with satellite OLI-2 (Land Imager 2) and shows the flooding situation in the town of Jebel Ali, 35 kilometers (22 miles) southwest of Dubai. The image is a false color (band 6-5-3) to highlight the presence of water, appearing blue. Flooding can be seen near the Jebel Ali Industrial Zone, south of the port, and near green resorts and parks south of Jebel Ali Palm.
Landsat 9 Abu Dhabi imagery taken on April 3 and April 19, 2024, shows the city and surrounding areas before and after the storm.
Parts of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, were also inundated with flooding from the storm. The Landsat 9 image above shows the city and surrounding areas before and after the April 3 (left) and April 19 (right) storms. On April 19, water could be seen covering Sheikh Zayed Road, a major road that runs through Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Floodwaters can also be seen in residential areas southeast of Abu Dhabi's city centre, Khalifa City and Zayed City.
The UAE's National Meteorological Centre reported up to 250 mm (10 inches) of rain in less than 24 hours in the eastern part of the country. The UAE is known for its dry desert climate, with only 140 to 200 mm (5.5 to 8 inches) of rainfall per year.
Dubai International Airport (pictured northeast) recorded 119mm of rainfall on 16 April, 1.5 times its typical annual rainfall. The flooding caused a temporary suspension of flights at the airport, which is one of the busiest airports in the world for international travel.
As of April 18, parts of the UAE are struggling to recover from the floods, according to news reports. Dubai International Airport is still reportedly experiencing flight delays.
编译来源：ScitechDaily