Residents rejoice as surprise downpour cools Al Ain

Heavy rain Saturday came as a surprise respite to Al Ain residents suffering due to high temperatures for the last several days. The rain accompanied by strong winds that recorded speeds of 30 knots hit at around 4.10pm. The spell lasted for almost an hour, water-logging low-lying areas, car parking lots,and streets. The sudden rain quickly lured hundreds of residents out into the open. The showers also brought down the temperature considerably. In some areas, children were seen dancing in the rain. According to the UAE Met Department, the day temperature in Al Ain was 42.4 degrees Celsius. The conditions, however, started to change at around 4pm when thick clouds quickly moved over the city from Oman. The downpour was accompanied by thunder and lightning and it cleared up the dust and improved the visibility. Motorists found the conditions difficult to drive in. Some minor accidents were reported but police declined to give details. The strong winds also blew away dish antennas, signboards and junk stored on rooftops of building. The electric supply was also disrupted in some areas as some Gulf News readers reported power outages in their building. The Met Department said it will continue to be hot and hazy and partly cloudy in general all over the emirates. There are also chances of low clouds over eastern areas at times.