Solar flares responsible for Dubai cloudburst: Expert

Indian weather scientist claims that the Dubai deluge that left the UAE city facing apocalyptic weather condition amid torrential rain was caused by solar flares and magnetic storms that were experienced just days back.

"Physical and chemical processes of solar energy penetrating the earth's crust i.e.magnetosphere before and after the magnetic storms M1.1 which occurred at 4.30 am IST on April 16 (Indirect effect yes.) -- resulted in the formation of cumulonimbus clouds, lightning and thunder along with cloudbursts in Dubai and other Gulf regions causing huge loss of life and property," asserts meteorologist Prof. Kirankumar Johare.

The UAE received 20 mm of rain since midnight on Monday. However from 9 am on Tuesday, rain and hail started with gale force winds.

In Dubai on Tuesday (April 16) evening, a cloudburst showered more than 142 mm of rain in just a few minutes, the highest in a year and half. The place received more than 10 inches (more than 254 mm) of rain in 24 hours.

The UAE goverment mentioned it was 'rare cloudburst'. In a post on its official X account, described the cloudburst as an "exceptional and rare weather phenomenon" and issued an alert for more rain, urging citizens to take care of themselves.

There has been suggestions from around the world that it could have been experimental cloud seeding -- artificial rain that helps overcome drought situation. While the National Meteorology Center of United Arab Emirates has agreed that seeding planes have flown seven times in two days in anticipation of maximum rain fall.

Dubai experiments with artificial rainfall to raise limited groundwater levels , eliminating drinking water shortages. There was a discussion that the rain started after deploying a small plan for this purpose. Bahrain, Oman and Quatar have also been hit by cloudbursts.

While talking to UNI reporter , Prof Johare said that the 'cloud seeding' that took place in the UAE in the absence of rain was said to be due to an artificial rain experiment. But along with the contribution of artificial rain experiment, the effect of sudden long wave radiation was more and thus was the result of 'temperature eddies' i.e. temperature vortices which were firmed when reaching the leak of solar cycle 25.