Flooding targets the UAE, Iran, Oman this week

By Adam Douty, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist

March 7,2016; 10:40PM,EST

 

 

A series of disturbances tracking across the Middle East this week will spark heavy thunderstorms, threatening to bring flash flooding to the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Iran.
Locally heavy thunderstorms will develop each of the next few days, causing normally dry rivers to swell with water and some roads to become impassable. The greatest threat for flooding will stretch from eastern UAE and northern Oman into southeastern Iran.

Cities in northern Oman such as Muscat and Sohar will see the greatest risk for flash flooding this week as thunderstorms develop across the mountains just to the west. Low pressure passing from UAE to southeast Iran on Wednesday will cause widespread rainfall, bringing the greatest threat for flooding.
These heavy thunderstorms will track into southeast Iran as well, affecting areas from Bahl to Chabahar and inland towards Zahedan. Wednesday and Thursday will be the days with the highest risk for heavy rain and flooding.
Rain will threaten Dubai and Abu Dhabi several days this week with the heaviest rain expected east of the cities. Despite this, any drenching downpour could cause dangerous travel and flash flooding.
Residents are urged to never drive through flooded roadways. It may be impossible to know how deep the water is or if the road is washed away.
The weather will improve across the southeast Arabian Peninsula on Friday with nothing more than an isolated shower or thunderstorm. Dry weather will follow on Saturday and Sunday.
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Rounds of showers and thunderstorms will advance to the north across Afghanistan and Pakistan this week as well. These showers and thunderstorms will be isolated through Wednesday. While the flooding threat will not be as high as compared to further to the south, streams and rivers are expected to become swollen and may spill out of their banks in areas that see the heaviest downpours.
Rainfall will increase across Pakistan and Afghanistan from Thursday into the weekend. During this time widespread rainfall is expected with the heaviest rain falling in southern Afghanistan and northern and western Pakistan. Flash flooding and mudslides are a concern across the region.
Isolated storms may also develop around Karachi on a few occasions this week, though this rain will be spotty with a higher chance for rainfall north and west of the city.
While the threat for rainfall will diminish in southern Pakistan and southwest Afghanistan on Sunday, another storm approaching from the west will continue the threat for downpours and flooding in northern parts of the both countries into next week.
Meteorologist Eric Leister contributed content to this story.