Hail fell over Margham in southern Dubai on Sunday afternoon, coinciding with a flash flood warning issued by the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) for the country's mountainous areas. Similar reports came in from Al Ajili and the Khor Fakkan road.
The NCM said convective clouds capable of rapidly shifting weather conditions were behind the sudden downpours. Yellow and orange alerts were in effect from 2pm to 7pm on Sunday across the UAE's eastern and southern regions, including mountainous terrain near Fujairah and Al Ain.
Authorities urged residents to exercise caution during the rainfall and to stay clear of areas prone to flash flooding. Those in orange-alert zones were told to remain prepared and follow safety instructions issued by the relevant authorities.
The warning comes as forecasters put the odds of El Nino conditions persisting through March 2027 at roughly 96 per cent, a pattern that could keep rainfall and temperatures above seasonal averages across the UAE. The NCM cautioned, however, that El Nino alone does not guarantee heavy rain or flooding — the outcome still depends on local atmospheric conditions on any given day.
Residents across Dubai and other emirates are advised to keep monitoring weather updates in the coming days, with the chance of sudden downpours and rapid shifts in conditions remaining elevated. Local authorities said they are on standby to respond to any waterlogging on roads and in low-lying areas.