Weather tracker: Thunderstorms drench UAE and Saudi Arabia

Abnormally strong jet stream triggers deluge in Middle East, while north Africa braces for 60-80mph gusts An unusual weather pattern unleashed severe thunderstorms across parts of the Middle East last week, battering countries including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The Arabian peninsula – typically dominated by arid desert climates – received…

Key takeaways

Quick scan — what you need to know:

• Abnormally strong jet stream triggers deluge in Middle East, while north Africa braces for 60-80mph gusts An unusual weather pattern unleashed severe thunderstorms across parts of the Middle East…
• The Arabian peninsula – typically dominated by arid desert climates – received up to 150mm of rain in just a few days.
• The deluge was caused by an abnormally strong jet stream, which helped form a deep area of low pressure to develop north of Saudi Arabia.
• This, in turn, drew moist tropical air from the Indian Ocean and triggered intense storms.

Background

What led here, in plain terms:

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• Abnormally strong jet stream triggers deluge in Middle East, while north Africa braces for 60-80mph gusts An unusual weather pattern unleashed severe thunderstorms across parts of the Middle East…
• The Arabian peninsula – typically dominated by arid desert climates – received up to 150mm of rain in just a few days.
• The deluge was caused by an abnormally strong jet stream, which helped form a deep area of low pressure to develop north of Saudi Arabia.

Why it matters

Why readers and decision-makers should care:

• The Arabian peninsula – typically dominated by arid desert climates – received up to 150mm of rain in just a few days.
• The deluge was caused by an abnormally strong jet stream, which helped form a deep area of low pressure to develop north of Saudi Arabia.
• This, in turn, drew moist tropical air from the Indian Ocean and triggered intense storms.