Rain, hail and lightning hit UAE as further showers forecast

KT published the story on Tuesday, 13 October 2026 at 2:27 pm and updated it at 3:15 pm the same day.

KT reported that heavy rain, hail and lightning struck parts of the UAE on Monday, October 12, 2026, with videos showing hailstones bouncing off desert roads, muddy water rushing through valleys and lightning illuminating the sky.

Sharjah records hail and storm activity

In Sharjah’s central region, hail fell in Mleiha, Al Madam and Al Ukhaidir. The Storm Centre account posted footage of small hailstones scattered across sandy roads and open ground in Mleiha and Al Ukhaidir, accompanied by the message “Storm Centre: Hail in Mleiha, Al Madam and Al Ukhaidir #RainAlert_StormCentre #UAE_Weather” dated 12/10/2026. Another clip from Al Madam showed hail covering a road, the ground dotted with white pellets. UAE Weatherman shared a video of two men standing beside a large vehicle in Al Madam at about 5:40 pm, while a Mleiha film from around 4:10 pm depicted rain-reduced visibility on a road.

Rainfall and runoff in Al Ain, Hatta and Ras Al Khaimah

Al Ain experienced heavy showers and night-time rain; Storm Centre shared footage at 8:37 pm of rain west of the city, with streetlights lighting the downpour and water gathering on the road surface. Along Al Watan Road towards Hatta, the rain caused runoff, with a Storm Centre video showing muddy water rushing through low-lying terrain, captioned “Storm Centre: Water flowing through low-lying areas along Al Watan Road towards Hatta #RainAlert_StormCentre #UAE_Weather” and dated 12/10/2026. Such conditions are hazardous near mountains and wadis where rain can raise water levels quickly. Shawkah in Ras Al Khaimah also received rain, with showers of varying intensity reported across eastern and northern parts of the UAE.

Lightning strikes and official warnings

Lightning was captured in Sharjah during the unsettled weather. An Instagram user @s_rak29 posted a video from Mleiha showing a bolt striking the ground and creating a bright orange flash. UAE Weatherman also shared a clip described as a lightning bolt hitting the ground in Hamda, Sharjah, on Monday evening. The National Centre of Meteorology issued a flash-flood alert for mountainous areas effective from 3:30 pm to 9:00 pm on October 12, urging caution and advising the public to avoid flood-prone zones. In a separate notice, the NCM told residents to avoid driving unless essential, to drive slowly, stay alert and use low-beam headlights when visibility dropped, and to follow official forecasts rather than unverified information.

Forecast for the coming days

More rain is expected across the UAE until the end of the week, with showers possibly spreading from eastern and northern regions into inland areas. According to Dr Ahmed Habib, a meteorologist at the NCM, the likely recipients include inland Dubai (near Mirdif), the Dubai-Al Ain road, the Abu Dhabi-Al Ain road, Sweihan near Al Ain, and parts of Al Dhafra including Madinat Zayed. Rainfall should be light to moderate but may become heavy at times, accompanied by thunder, gusty winds and downdrafts that could lift dust and sand, reducing visibility in open areas. Residents have been advised to monitor official weather updates, especially when travelling through mountainous zones or locations prone to flash flooding.