The UAE’s National Meteorological Center reported that eastern areas of the country received up to 250mm of rain in less than 24 hours
The United Arab Emirates was at the mercy of a storm system that brought more rain in a few hours than it does in a year to some cities earlier this week.
The unprecedented scale of the devastation was captured by the Landsat 9 satellite that passed over the region for the first time since the storms, with some areas still flooded on April 19.
These images show flooding around Abu Dhabi before and after the storms with the water shown in dark blue.
Parts of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, were also flooded by the storms. The Landsat 9 images above show the city and surrounding area on April 3 (left) and April 19 (right), before and after the storms.
On April 19, water covers a major road that crosses Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Patches of flooded areas are also visible in Khalifa City and Zayed City, residential areas southeast of central Abu Dhabi.
Flooding is seen in the industrial area of Jebel Ali, just south of the port and near the leafy resorts and parks south of Palm Jebel Ali.
The UAE’s National Meteorological Center reported that eastern areas of the country received up to 250mm of rain in less than 24 hours. The UAE, known for its dry desert climate, receives only about 140 to 200 millimeters of rainfall per year.
Dubai International Airport recorded 119mm on April 16, 1.5 times the typical annual rainfall.
The deluge temporarily halted flights at the airport, which is one of the world’s busiest for international travel, and delays are still being seen today.
