Mashable: It's expected to rain until 6 pm today.

Residents of Dubai woke up to the startling sounds of thunderclaps and flashes of lightning early on Monday morning as moderate to heavy rainfall descended upon the emirate. Simultaneously, reports emerged of heavy rain and hail pelting various parts of Abu Dhabi.

According to the Met Office, hail was documented in the Al Dhafrah region, Al Wathba, Mohamed Bin Zayed City, and Sweihan in Al Ain between 3:36 AM and 5:15 AM.

#أمطار_الخير#المركز_الوطني_للأرصاد
#Rain#NCM pic.twitter.com/Lk6WaTyBB7

— المركز الوطني للأرصاد (@ncmuae) February 11, 2024
The National Center of Meteorology (NCM) issued an orange weather alert indicating ongoing unstable weather across the UAE, with rainy clouds expected to persist until 6 PM.

"Convective clouds, associated with rainfall of different intensities along with lightning, thunder, hail, and strong winds over some internal and coastal areas, are forecasted from 4 AM until 6 PM on Monday, February 12," read an NCM alert.

These convective clouds, resembling piled cotton balls, are conducive to cloud seeding. The NCM closely monitors their movement over the country and dispatches cloud-seeding flights to maximise rainfall.

An NCM spokesperson mentioned that rain intensity is expected to decrease by afternoon, with a diminishing chance of rain by nightfall.

This bout of unstable weather is attributed to "an extension of an upper air depression, accompanied by a cold air mass, and westerly air currents, with varying amounts of clouds flowing over the country from the West," as per the NCM.

The rains prompted advisories for remote work in both private and public sectors, as well as for online classes across the UAE on Monday.

In response, the UAE Cabinet declared February 12 as a remote work day for all federal government employees, excluding those in essential roles requiring physical presence.

Similarly, employees of all Dubai government entities were directed to work remotely, as decreed by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai.

The Ministry of Education announced that all federal higher education institutions would transition to remote learning on Monday.

Private schools, nurseries, and universities in Dubai were urged to exercise flexibility in attendance policies and opt for distance learning if deemed necessary, according to a message from Dubai’s education regulator, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority.