Imagine being a kid and waking up to hear schools are closed on Wednesday in the UAE. Living the dream thanks to ‘unstable weather’! Not so great if you’re the parent of one of these kids though and have to sort out last minute childcare. It’s all for good reason though as the roads are likely to be a bit dicey on Wednesday due to the impending rain.
Ministry of Education announces school’s out
The Ministry of Education (MOE) shared a Tweet to its official Twitter account stating that due to the fluctuating weather conditions predicted for Wednesday 20th November, all schools in Dubai and The Northern Emirates would be closed. The decision comes due to safety concerns for students. Earlier in the day, the announcement had already been made for schools throughout Abu Dhabi.
Dubai Municipality issues warning to drivers
Dubai Municipality warned drivers of Wednesday’s rainy start for the day and asked road users to be mindful of the driving conditions on wet roads. They also requested that residents get in touch if rainwater is seen accumulating- a common issue when the UAE suffers from wet weather.
Thunderstorms predicted until Friday
According to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), thunderstorms are expected to hit tomorrow and continue on until Friday. This week looks set to be another period of weird weather in the UAE and we will have to wait and see whether the schools continue to be closed beyond Wednesday.
Today, Ras Al Khaimah was struck by heavy rain with Jebel Jais practically displaying waterfalls with the amount of water that was seen pouring down the mountain sides.
Stay safe if you’re on the roads tomorrow and don’t forget to dust off your umbrella (if you even have one!).