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Unfavorable weather in UAE: Hailstorm follows gusty winds and sandstorms sweeping throughout the nation

Motorists advised to brace for heavy rain and reduced visibility

Severe weather hits UAE: Hailstorm follows heavy winds and thick dust clouds
Severe weather hits UAE: Hailstorm follows heavy winds and thick dust clouds

Unfavorable weather in UAE: Hailstorm follows gusty winds and sandstorms sweeping throughout the nation

**Unexpected Weather Phenomena Strike the UAE**

Residents of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were in for a surprise on July 16, 2025, as uncommon heavy rain and hailstorms hit several parts of the country. The unusual weather event, caused by thermal instability in the atmosphere, particularly in elevated or mountainous regions like Al Ain, has become increasingly frequent due to climate change.

The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) reported that the UAE experienced its wettest July in 1978 during July 2022. This year, the UAE endured its hottest April and May on record. However, the summer of 2025 has seen an unexpected turn of events, with the arrival of thunderstorms and hailstorms.

The key factors leading to these weather events are the presence of warm, humid air near the surface coupled with pockets of cooler air aloft, which create cumulonimbus clouds capable of producing hailstorms even in summer. The moisture for these storms is often transported by low-pressure systems drifting across from India, intensifying thermal instability and triggering heavy rain and hail during otherwise hot and dry months.

On July 16, 2025, heavy rain and small hailstorms occurred in Wadi Al Quor, Ras Al Khaimah, causing disruption on the roads. Footage shared on social media showed similar scenes of torrential showers in Ras Al Khaimah. In addition, yellow and orange alerts were in place until 5pm on July 16, 2025, due to the unsettled weather. Rain also fell in parts of the UAE, including Khor Fakkan.

The NCM forecast "fair to partly cloudy" conditions on July 17, 2025, with a "probability of some convective cloud formation, especially eastward by afternoon" that "may be associated with rainfall". Forecasters are predicting parts of the eastern UAE could have rain over the next few days. However, the national weather centre also warned that winds reaching up to 40kph on Friday, July 18, 2025, could kick up dust clouds over coastal and internal areas, potentially reducing visibility on the roads.

The UAE's weather is being affected by a low-pressure system from the east. This system, combined with the monsoon season in India, which occasionally arrives early as in 2025, increases atmospheric moisture and instability affecting the Gulf states. As a result, the UAE is experiencing a volatile and extreme weather pattern this summer.

| Cause/Pattern | Description | |-------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------| | Thermal instability | Warm surface air rises into cold upper atmosphere; hail forms | | Geography | Elevated regions like Al Ain more prone to hail due to altitude | | Climate change | Increasing weather volatility and extremity | | Low-pressure systems from India | Cyclonic circulation over Arabian Sea transfers moisture into UAE | | Monsoon linkage | Early/active monsoon phases in India relate to heavy rain events in UAE |

  1. Oman, situated close to the UAE, may also experience similar weather patterns due to the current low-pressure system originating from the east and the monsoon season in India.
  2. News channels and local video platforms in both the UAE and Oman are broadcasting special reports on the ongoing weather-forecasting updates and precautions for residents in these regions.
  3. Despite the forecasted fair to partly cloudy conditions, weather-forecasting agencies advise everyone in the UAE to remain vigilant, as sudden downpours and strong winds could still impact the country over the next few days, disrupting travel and daily routines.

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