TORRENTIAL rain is again battering Dubai just two weeks after severe flooding engulfed the city.
Authorities have issued an emergency public safety alert – warning residents to stay safe as storms sweep across.
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On April 14 and 15, Dubai suffered its heaviest rainfall in more than 70 years, sparking what was branded “biblical” flooding.
A year’s worth of rain poured in just 24 hours, with the city woefully unprepared.
An airport was left submerged underwater, roads at a standstill and homes and businesses filled up with water.
It is feared the destructive deluge could end up costing Dubai up to $1billion to clean up damage.
Now police have warned locals of even more adverse weather rocking the city.
Cops have urged residents to “avoid beaches, refrain from sailing and stay clear of valleys” in its latest alert issued on Wednesday evening.
Unstable weather conditions are forecasted for Thursday and Friday as authorities take action to stop the rain again wreaking havoc.
Horrified residents were woken up today by strong winds and rain in the early hours.
Brit expat Tom Evans, from Stoke, told The Sun: “It’s not as bad as April’s carnage but Dubai and Abu Dhabi have both pretty much ground to a halt.”
Specialised teams have been deployed to quickly tackle big accumulations of rainwater and keep drivers safe.
But some flights have already been cancelled because of bad weather across the United Arab Emirates.
At least nine arrivals and four outbound flights from Dubai International Airport were cancelled overnight, while five inbound plans were diverted.
Meanwhile, several flights have been ditched by Emirates.
A spokesman said: “Customers arriving or departing from Dubai airport on May 2 can expect some delays as flights are rescheduled.”
What is cloud seeding?
DUBAI is again by battered by heavy rain – just weeks after severe flooding.
The cause of the downpours has not been confirmed – but experts have theorised it may have been the result of cloud seeding.
Cloud-seeding is carried out in the UAE to increase the desert nation’s dwindling and limited groundwater supply, according to AP.
The weather modification technique involves small planes flying through clouds while burning special salt flares that can increase precipitation.
Meteorologists at the National Centre for Meteorology said they flew six or seven cloud-seeding flights before the rain started in April, according to reports.
A lack of drainage on roads and in other areas of the UAE – due to the irregularity of rain – is believed to have worsened the flooding.
Dramatic footage shows the city being battered by stormy conditions – with several roads waterlogged.
Another clip shared on social media shows lightning crashing in the night sky.
Heavy downpours and thunderstorms are also sweeping through the UAE capital Abu Dhabi.
UAE’s weather service, The National Center of Meteorology, has issued an amber alert for covering, covering much of the country.
Motorists have been warned to avoid driving “unless absolutely necessary”.
An alert from the service reads: “If necessary, drive with caution and remain vigilant and alert to ensure safety of all road users.”
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