UAE-Oman thunderstorm: A Wake-Up Call on Climate Resilience

A massive thunderstorm system hit the United Arab Emirates and Oman between the 14th- 16th of April 2024, unleashing torrential rains that caused widespread chaos and devastating damage. The unrelenting downpours inundated streets and homes, making daily life incredibly challenging for countless residents. Tragically, the storm exacted a heavy toll in Oman, where approximately 20 lives were lost due to the extreme conditions, according to official reports from the country's National Committee for Emergency Management.

Onset, strike, and Path of Destruction

The storm's powerful strike began in Oman on Sunday, April 14th, as it relentlessly battered the region with intense rainfall and gusty winds. The deluge triggered widespread power outages, crippled transportation networks, and turned airport runways into waterlogged pathways, forcing the suspension of flight operations at multiple airports across the country (Oman Meteorological Authority).  As the ‘storm system’ tracked eastward toward the UAE on April 16th, it maintained its ferocity, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The UAE's National Center of Meteorology reported record-breaking rainfall in the vicinity of Al Ain, located near the Omani border, where an astonishing 254 millimeters (10 inches) of precipitation was recorded within 24 hours – an unprecedented amount surpassing all historical records dating back to 1949.  This Heavy rainfall overcame the drainage system capacity, leading to severe flooding that submerged homes, businesses, and crucial city infrastructure. Numerous communities found themselves struggling with the aftermath as rescue efforts were mounted to assist stranded residents and provide emergency relief supplies.

Climate Change Fueling Thunderstorm Intensity

The intensity of the recent thunderstorm that struck the UAE and Oman is part of a broader pattern of more extreme weather events being exacerbated by climate change. As global temperatures continue to rise due to increased greenhouse gas emissions, the warming of the Earth's surface and oceans provides more energy and moisture to fuel powerful thunderstorms. According to a study published in the journal Nature Climate Change, the likelihood of extreme rainfall events has increased significantly over the past century, with a strong correlation to rising global temperatures (Fowler et al., 2021). Warmer air can hold more moisture, increasing the potential for heavy downpours when atmospheric conditions are conducive for thunderstorm formation. Moreover, climate change is altering atmospheric circulation patterns and contributing to more favorable conditions for intense thunderstorm development. A study by researchers at the University of Oxford found that climate change is causing an increase in the frequency and severity of atmospheric rivers – long, narrow bands of moisture that can unleash extreme precipitation events (Guan and Waliser, 2019). As the Earth's surface continues to warm, the contrast between warm and cool air masses becomes more pronounced, creating greater instability in the atmosphere and increasing the potential for severe thunderstorms with heavy rainfall, strong winds, and even tornadoes.

Esraa Alnaqbi, a prominent Emirati meteorologist, also shed light on the dynamics at play during the UAE thunderstorm: "When different air pressure systems converge, it can intensify storm systems. While such occurrences are relatively infrequent, they align with the rapid seasonal transitions we are witnessing, and climate change could potentially increase their frequency."

Cloud Seeding Debate and Climate Change Dynamics  

As the storm's intensity escalated, speculations arose regarding the potential role of cloud seeding in intensifying the rainfall. However, meteorological experts quickly dismissed these claims, stating that cloud seeding operations typically occur before a storm's formation, not during an already severe weather event. Instead, they attributed the storm's exceptional strength to a confluence of various meteorological factors, compounded by the escalating impacts of global climate change on weather patterns as we mentioned earlier in this Blog.

Lesson learned: Resilience, Recovery, and Climate Action

In the aftermath of the storm, residents and authorities in both countries joined forces to assess the full extent of the damage, assist those impacted, and initiate recovery efforts. The resilience displayed by these communities in the face of such adversity underscores the critical importance of bolstering preparedness measures for extreme weather events and taking decisive action to combat climate change.  

This recent storm serves as a sobering reminder of the urgent need to address climate change and its cascading effects on the environment and human settlements. It emphasizes the imperative for enhanced infrastructure resilience, robust community preparedness strategies, and the widespread adoption of sustainable practices to mitigate the impacts of future storms and safeguard our communities for generations to come.

The recent devastating storm in the UAE and Oman serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address climate change and its far-reaching impacts on weather patterns and extreme events. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions and implementing sustainable practices, we can mitigate the risks posed by increasingly volatile weather conditions and work towards a more resilient future.

Sources:

- Oman Meteorological Authority

- UAE National Center of Meteorology

- Oman National Committee for Emergency Management

- Interviews with meteorology experts

- Fowler, H.J. et al. (2021). Anthropogenic intensification of short-duration rainfall extremes. Nature Climate Change, 11(5), 385-390.  

- Guan, B. and Waliser, D.E. (2019). Detection of atmospheric rivers: Evaluation and application of an algorithm for global studies. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 124(24), 13514-13535.

By- Kuldeep Singh, Naba Usman

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