Heavy rains lashed parts of the Middle East on Tuesday, closing schools in the United Arab Emirates and flooding the tarmac at Dubai International Airport. At least 18 people have been killed by the storms in Oman in recent days.
The storms flooded roads and created dangerous conditions across the region, a normally dry part of the world unaccustomed to heavy rains and flash floods.
Flights to Dubai Airport were temporarily diverted due to the “ongoing exceptional weather conditions currently being experienced in the UAE,” airport officials said in a statement on Tuesday.
Video footage Research by Saudi state news outlet Al Arabiya shows that the tarmac in Dubai is flooded, with planes skimming through the water and support vehicles almost submerged.
The UAE received more than 5 inches of rain in one day, flooding streets in Dubai and sending water into homes and businesses, The Associated Press reported.
The UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority urged people to stay at home, saying in a message on accumulate.
Private schools in the UAE were closed ahead of the storm and government employees were ordered to work remotely.
The UAE is known for its arid conditions and arid climate, but the country can receive occasional rainfall during winter.
In neighboring Oman, storms and heavy rain in recent days killed 10 schoolchildren and an adult driver in a vehicle overtaken by floods, according to the AP.
Other parts of the Middle East, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia, were also hit by unusually wet conditions this week.
It’s too early to know if global warming has played a role in the recent storms, but studies have shown that a warmer atmosphere due to climate change could hold more moisture, which could in turn lead to stronger storms and intense rainfall.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
