UAE Desert Transformed: Rare Hailstorm Blankets Sharjah and Al Ain in Ice
On Thursday, October 15, residents across parts of the UAE witnessed a dramatic shift in weather as heavy rainfall and intense hailstorms swept through the region. Social media has been flooded with remarkable footage showing desert landscapes covered in a thick layer of ice, creating a winter-like scene amid the autumn heat. In Sharjah, motorists were seen navigating slick highways, while curious passersby collected large chunks of ice that had accumulated along the roadsides.
The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) had previously signaled the arrival of unstable conditions, issuing yellow alerts for areas prone to convective clouds. While Al Ain was not explicitly included in the initial warnings, the region experienced significant downpours and hail as the storm system moved across the country. Looking ahead, weather experts anticipate continued unsettled conditions, with forecasts calling for rain in regions like Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Liwa throughout the coming days, even as the weekend promises a brief respite with mostly cloudy skies.