Devendra Kumar
A severe storm brought record rainfall to the United Arab Emirates and Oman, causing widespread flooding, power outages, and disruptions to transportation and daily life. The storm initially hit Oman on Sunday before moving to the UAE on Tuesday, resulting in at least 20 deaths in Oman and one death in the UAE. The damage is estimated to be worth around $500 million, with flood damage to government offices, schools, and homes.
Experts attribute the record rainfall to a combination of natural and climate-related factors. A low-pressure system in the upper atmosphere, coupled with low pressure at the surface, created the perfect conditions for a powerful thunderstorm. Climate change, which has led to rising global temperatures, likely exacerbated the storm by allowing the atmosphere to hold more moisture, resulting in heavier rainfall.
The region’s dry desert climate makes rainfall rare, but it is not uncommon for roads to be submerged during heavy rainfall events due to a lack of drainage systems. The UAE has been investing in cloud seeding technology to address water scarcity, but officials at the UAE’s meteorology agency state that there were no cloud seeding operations before the storm. Instead, experts attribute the record rainfall to a normal weather system that was amplified by climate change.
A senior forecaster at the UAE’s National Centre of Meteorology noted that the storm was an “abnormal phenomenon” that is not unexpected in April, when the season changes and pressure changes rapidly. Climate scientists agree that global warming is leading to more extreme weather events around the world, including intense rainfall. According to Professor Dim Coumou, rainfall from thunderstorms tends to see a strong increase with warming.
A warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, resulting in heavier rainfall. The implications of climate change on extreme rainfall events like this are significant. The director at the Australian National University’s Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions noted that global warming has resulted in “extraordinarily” warm water in the seas around Dubai, which allows for bigger dumps of rainfall. A climatologist warned that extreme rainfall events like this are likely to become more frequent and severe due to human-caused climate change.
When conditions are perfect for heavy rain, there is more moisture in the air, leading to harder rainfall, which is exacerbated by warmer temperatures caused by climate change. The occurrence of such extreme weather events highlights the need for countries to take immediate action to mitigate the effects of climate change and adapt to its consequences. The UAE and Oman must invest in infrastructure and emergency preparedness to minimize the impact of future heavy rainfall events.