Dubai Rain: Watch Videos of Lightning Striking Burj Khalifa During Storm
Lightning struck the tallest building in the world as residents took to social media to share video clips of yesterday’s storm,
It was a very wet Monday evening as Dubai residents experienced the first rain of March 2024, accompanied by flashes of lightning and thunderstorms, which are expected to continue into Tuesday morning throughout some parts of the UAE.
The National Center of Meteorology is currently maintaining a yellow alert for most regions in the UAE, reporting heavy rain with hail over Al Ain and lightning and thunder in Abu Dhabi throughout the early hours of Tuesday.
Drivers are being encouraged to drive with caution.
Yesterday evening Dubai Police shared a tweet stressing that it was “of utmost importance for drivers and road users to be extremely cautious while on the roads” while the Emirate was hit with moderate to heavy rain.
#TrafficUpdate | Various areas in #Dubai are currently experiencing moderate to heavy rain. It is of utmost importance for drivers and road users to be extremely cautious while on the roads. pic.twitter.com/E99Wipr7Di
— Dubai Policeشرطة دبي (@DubaiPoliceHQ) March 4, 2024
Dubai Rain: Watch Lightning Strike Burj Khalifa During Storm
Residents took to social media to share videos of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, and other landmarks around Dubai appearing to be struck by lightning during yesterday evening’s storm.
The magnificent #BurjKhalifa hit by a #Lightning this evening #storm #weather #Dubai pic.twitter.com/AznXYjWhNf
— earthy_things (@earthy_things) March 4, 2024
Burj Khalifa $ Dubai Mall Right Now ❤️ ?️ #rain #dubairain #rainindubai #dubai #dubailife pic.twitter.com/UFzhtYGdts
— Habib Rehman (@Habibviews) March 4, 2024
Dubai residents shared other videos of Monday evening’s sky being lit up with lightning…
@vasiafatima Raining right now #foryou #uae #dubai #vasiafatima #potd #dubaiblogger #tiktokuae #jbr #dubaimarina #votd #treanding #traveltiktok
@doubleadiaries Thunderstorm in UAE #dubairain #dubai #rainstorm #uae
Beautiful weather #Dubai #dubairain #Thunder pic.twitter.com/Im5Kb9vCt5
— ORGANIQ LIVING (@Organiqliving) March 4, 2024
How often does the Burj Khalifa get struck by lightning during storms?
Sources report that The Burj Khalifa experiences approximately 10 lightning strikes per year on average, owing to its status as the world’s tallest skyscraper – but don’t worry, its occupants are perfectly safe inside.
It is equipped with lightning rods that divert lightning strikes away from the structure and guide them safely into the ground.
Additionally, the Burj Khalifa’s construction materials, including concrete and steel, are excellent conductors of electricity, ensuring the swift and secure dissipation of electrical charges into the ground.
As a result, the Burj Khalifa remains remarkably safe, even in the presence of thunderstorms, thanks to its lightning rods and other protective measures.
Was yesterday’s storm in Dubai caused by cloud seeding?
While cloud seeding doesn’t create rain per se, it simply enhances conditions making more rainfall. In February 2024, Bazaar Arabia spoke to a meteorology expert from the National Center of Meteorology (NCM) who explained the science behind how it worked, confirming last month’s stormy days were a result of its operations.
Clouds are seeded with CCN or ice nuclei, they can produce more rain or snow than they would naturally. This is because the CCN or ice nuclei provide more surfaces for water vapour to condense or freeze on.
The UAE has been using cloud seeding technology since the early 1990s. The NCM is responsible for the country’s cloud seeding program. The NCM uses a variety of methods to seed clouds, including aircraft-based seeding and ground-based seeding.
The NCM has said that cloud seeding can increase rainfall in the UAE by up to 30%. The NCM also says that cloud seeding can help to reduce hail damage and suppress fog.
Lead image courtesy of Instagram/@bridalfabrics
