Dr Mohammed Al Abri of the Meteorology Department at the National Centre of Meteorology said that climatic conditions are bound to change, and the UAE will see increased rainfall by 10 to 20 percent, and the average temperature is likely to rise by 1.7 degrees in ten years. This he said during a seminar on crisis and natural disaster management hosted by Dubai Police.
Dr. Al Abri also emphasized preparedness and changes that are going to be observed, as perfect conditions were recently seen in extreme weather events in April. Most parts of the areas were flooded with over 100mm of rainfall, and in some places, like Khatm Al Shakla, it exceeded at an astonishing 259mm.
As UAE readies itself for such climatic changes, officials believe that a spell of extreme climatic episodes will test crisis management. “Heavy rains and floods test our capacity to plan and respond effectively,” said Lt-Gen Dhahi Khalfan bin Tamim, deputy chief of police and public security in Dubai. According to him, real successful crisis management requires proactive planning, community collaboration, and attention towards rehabilitation and rebuilding after the disasters.
This is assuming that the advanced meteorological infrastructure of 140 weather stations and seven radars will be used to monitor those changes. According to Dr. Al Abri, under a low emissions scenario, the region could see more nights above 30 degrees Celsius and an increase in days surpassing 40 degrees Celsius.
Officials in the UAE and surrounding region are, therefore demanding that comprehensive strategies be put in place to mitigate the impacts of increased rainfall and climate change as a way of ensuring community resilience against extreme weather.
