The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) issued yellow and orange alerts on 19 October as convective clouds dumped heavy rain and hail over Sharjah, Fujairah and parts of Ras Al Khaimah, with gusts exceeding 50 kph reducing visibility on highways. Video posted by the Storm Centre platform showed torrents flooding wadis in the Hajar foothills. The General Civil Aviation Authority warned that rapidly changing weather could affect operations at Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi airports, advising airlines to build extra holding fuel into flight plans and to expect possible departure spacing. While no major diversions were reported by press time, ground-handling firms activated lightning protocols that temporarily halt airside work, potentially delaying cargo turn-rounds. For commuters, police in the Northern Emirates urged motorists to slow to 80 kph, switch on low-beam headlights and maintain a 5-car gap. Logistics companies rerouted some last-mile deliveries to avoid flooded underpasses, and several schools shifted afternoon classes online. Weather volatility during El Niño years has become a growing mobility issue: a single cloudburst in February 2024 stranded 1,200 transit passengers overnight at DXB after apron flooding closed one runway. Travel managers are therefore updating crisis playbooks to include local transport alternatives and hotel allotments in Sharjah and Ajman when Dubai hotels sell out during weather-driven delays. The NCM’s five-day outlook predicts further rain through Thursday, with early-morning fog over western desert regions likely to trigger more speed-limit reductions. Employers with field staff are encouraged to activate “flexi-work” policies and to monitor the NCM app for real-time alerts.
Source: The National
