{“result”:”
UAE Battered by Epic Thunderstorms and Thick Hail as NCM Shuts Down Viral \”Cyclone\” Rumors
\n\n
DUBAI — The United Arab Emirates awoke to scenes straight out of a disaster movie as an intense band of thunderstorms, heavy rain, and freak hail swept across the desert nation. But amidst the flooded roads and delayed flights, viral social media panic about an impending \”cyclone\” forced the National Center of Meteorology (NCM) to officially set the record straight.
\n\n
\”Snow\” in the Desert?
\n
Residents were left stunned as thick, icy hail blanketed parts of the UAE overnight, briefly transforming the usually sun-scorched landscape into a winter wonderland. Images and videos of \”snow in the desert\” immediately went viral across social media platforms, capturing the surreal aftermath of the extreme weather system that relentlessly lashed the emirates.
\n\n
NCM Breaks Silence on Cyclone Claims
\n
As the skies darkened and the rain poured, so did the misinformation. Whispers of a devastating cyclone heading for the Gulf quickly morphed into a trending panic. However, the NCM officially broke its silence, categorically debunking the viral claims. Authorities reassured the public that while the weather system was unusually severe—characterized by heavy downpours, high winds, and lightning—it was firmly a seasonal storm and not a cyclone. The NCM strongly urged residents to ignore fear-mongering and rely only on official channels for weather updates.
\n\n
Travel Chaos and Round-the-Clock Cleanup
\n
The heavy bands of rain left a significant mark on daily life across the country, prompting swift action from government bodies and local authorities. Here is how the severe weather has impacted the UAE:
\n\n
- \n
- Flight Disruptions: Travellers flying out of major UAE hubs faced sudden delays and rescheduled flights as airlines scrambled to navigate the stormy skies and compromised visibility. Passengers are being actively advised to verify their flight status before heading to the airport.
- Traffic Nightmares: Major highways experienced severe waterlogging, prompting urgent traffic and safety warnings. Police urged motorists to stay home unless absolutely necessary.
- Massive Cleanup Efforts: With the final band of rain now sweeping across the nation, municipal crews are working around the clock. Fleets of water pumps and emergency responders have been deployed to clear standing water and debris from residential areas and commercial hubs.
\n
\n
\n
\n\n
As the clouds finally begin to part, the UAE is once again proving its rapid-response resilience. Order is being restored to the streets, but the memories of this epic desert storm—and the icy \”snow\” it left behind—will dominate conversations for weeks to come.
“,”modelVersion”:”gemini-3.1-pro-preview”,”usageMetadata”:{“promptTokenCount”:2188,”outputTokenCount”:1846}}