Non-stop rain lashes parts of Qatar, floods streets
Qatar is experiencing the second major rain this week just a month after the first one hit the nation and water-logged some major streets and low-lying areas.
Some areas in the country may continue to witness intermittent rains accompanied by thunder until 11 this morning.
Qatar had experienced similar heavy rain exactly a month ago, which led to serious flooding and water-logging at several major streets and areas in the country.
Until 5.30pm yesterday, heavy to moderate rains lashed several parts of the country, including Doha. Some areas in Doha received heavy showers.
By early last evening, Al Ruwais in the north had witnessed the heaviest downpour of the year, with a forecaster saying records showed 25mm rainfall.
In Laqwairiya area, the rainfall was heavy (upto 23mm) until early last evening. The average rainfall in Doha was 6mm until 5.30pm, according to the forecaster.
In some areas such as the Old Airport locality, rains started since 10am and continued intermittently until late in the night.
Many parts of the country, especially the low-lying ones, including several places in Doha, witnessed waterlogging.
This prompted municipality workers to rush to the main roads particularly, emergency rain water draining teams with tankers fitted with water draining equipment.
All Municipalities are doing their job to remove the #rain water. Have patience and cooperate with #MMUP. #Qatar pic.twitter.com/vXDlufmoFq
— Baladiya (@Baladiya1) December 25, 2015All the seven municipalities in the country had already been on alert. They were prepared for the emergency arising from the rain because the weather bureau had forecast unstable weather earlier last week.
The bureau had said that rains may lash the country on Thursday and yesterday and the situation may last until Monday evening.
It began raining in several areas of the country including Doha a little past midnight on Thursday. The weather bureau had said that the weather may stabilise by Monday.
A forecaster, meanwhile, said that rains may stop after 11am today. The routine weather forecast released by the bureau for until 6 this morning warned that rains accompanied by thunder may continue in some places.
It forecast high northwesterly winds moving at speeds of 12 to 22 knots and later to even 30 knots inland, while offshore northwesterly winds may move at speeds from 15 to 28 knots.
Strong winds are likely offshore and the sea is forecast to be rough with waves, at times, rising at places from five to nine feet today.
Visibility will be affected early in the morning, and could be as low as two kilometre or even less at places. Later in the day, the visibility will improve to four to eight kilometre, said the weather bureau.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning was coordinating with Ashghal in different areas of the country yesterday to remove logged water from the main roads, in particular.
The Ministry of Interior cautioned motorists to be careful and not drive with hazard lights or high beam lights on while it rained. It also asked motorists to drive slowly to ensure safety. [The Peninsula]
Don’t risk to drive through water-logging on roads as you don’t know the depth or other possible obstacles inside. #MoI_Qatar
— Ministry of Interior (@MOI_QatarEn) December 25, 2015As rain falls, it creates slick conditions perfect for skids. To avoid skidding slow down your vehicle. #MoI_Qatar pic.twitter.com/VmOpLPEnE4
— Ministry of Interior (@MOI_QatarEn) December 25, 2015Cover photo by Nassrou Nasrou
Haha.... When i was in Saudi , I had an old Chevy Impala .. It used to wade through water like a duck ... great fun watching the others choke up and splutter :o)
Brit: Just to big up the camry a bit more, i drove and splashed through every lake in doha all of last night and other thana little belt screech and wet horn, she made it through like a champ...saw 2 mini coopers break down dont know why minis dont like a wet engibe bay...was great fun though...
the effect of the global warming and the troposphere and oceanic warming changes causing to these unexpected extreme weather conditions.
moreover, I would like to notify the Infrastructure drainage system's importance in Qatar to prevent the flood in future. there are many tunnels under construction for railways and they must be considered about future extreme rainfalls as the global atmosphere & weather conditions not stable. heavy rain and storm can hit anytime because of the oceanic warming. 2015 is on record for warmest year.
so, Infrastructure and drainage systems must be considered and they should planed depend on the height from the sea level. concentration in this angle may lead the rain water to drain faster and can provide the disasters in future.
Oh for goodness sake. Why weren't we warned ? Just spent an hour trying to tow Rizks' tuk-tuk to dry land :0(