Deciphering Dubai’s Flash Floods: Experts Connect Them to Climate Change

Representatives for the UAE government did not immediately reply to a written request for comment. The heavy rains that flooded Dubai this week halted air traffic, damaged buildings and streets, and raised questions about the city’s preparedness for extreme storms.

Weather forecasters had predicted the storm days in advance, and authorities issued warnings to citizens to stay home. Nonetheless, Dubai was brought to a standstill with one of the worst rain events in decades.

Historically, the UAE did not invest in stormwater management systems due to the limited rainfall. However, the variability of rainfall across the region has increased, leading to a stronger economic case for such systems.

Human-caused climate change is intensifying extreme weather events such as heat and rain, making them more frequent and harder to predict. Although the Middle East is projected to face higher temperatures and decreased overall rainfall, it is also expected to experience unprecedented rainstorms.

This presents a challenge for governments to adapt to rare but destructive events. The UAE was hit by its heaviest downpour since 1949, attributed to a large amount of moisture rising from warming seas to the atmosphere.

El Nino may have also influenced the storm, and while climate change cannot be ruled out, further studies are needed to determine its exact impact. The infrastructure in Dubai and the UAE was unprepared for the large amount of water during the recent storm.

Drainage systems were inadequate, causing flooding of streets, highways, and homes. Water was pumped from the streets after the storm, but some areas remained waterlogged.

The consequences of the flooding were far-reaching, affecting supermarkets, schools, and government operations. The airport limited inbound flights, and other countries have also experienced severe flooding in recent years due to heavy rainfall.

Lisa Dale, a climate adaptation specialist, noted that governments often rely on past weather patterns to predict future weather, leaving them unprepared for the impacts of climate change that were historically uncommon. Finally, the story specifies that it has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.