The UAE is bracing for unprecedented weather conditions forecasted from April 15 to 17, prompting the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) to issue a call to action for private sector companies, particularly those in regions expected to be heavily impacted, to implement necessary safety measures in outdoor work environments.
The ministry emphasized the importance of prioritizing the health and safety of workers during their commutes and while carrying out on-site activities. It urged employers to ensure compliance with occupational health and safety requirements to mitigate potential risks associated with the fluctuating weather.
In response to the forecast, local emergency teams in Ras Al Khaimah have decided to transition government institutions to distance learning on April 16 and 17 as a precautionary measure to safeguard students, administrative staff, and teaching personnel. Similarly, several schools in Dubai are proactively preparing for the possibility of transitioning to online classes, with teachers instructed to have study materials ready in case of a shift to distance learning.
The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) released advisories warning of widespread extreme weather events, such as thunderstorms, lightning, thunder, and high winds. There is a possibility of diminished horizontal visibility and floods in certain areas due to these circumstances. Precipitation, along with lightning and thunder, is anticipated to follow the formation of convective clouds over interior and coastal regions beginning Monday afternoon.
The western regions will see the development of unstable weather conditions from Monday evening through Tuesday afternoon. These circumstances will then progressively expand to Abu Dhabi, the northern regions, and the eastern regions. Rainfall of varied intensities, accompanied by lightning, thunder, and, in some places, hail, is likely to occur during this time as convective cloud activity increases.
From Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning, another wave of unsettled weather is forecast to sweep through Western regions, affecting scattered areas across the country. Increased convective cloud activity is expected, resulting in rainfall of different intensities, along with lightning, thunder, and the potential for hail in localized areas. In response, the UAE government emphasizes the importance of preparedness and safety measures to mitigate the potential impact of the unstable weather conditions.
