This weekend was like no other I have experienced in Dubai.
On Thursday local news reported sandstorm warnings for the weekend, not unusual for this time of year as the temperatures start climbing towards summer. The media was full of warnings to stay indoors and reminders of the effects on respiratory health.
Friday was pretty standard, lots of sand and dust in the air and the strange yellow haze that comes with it. But nothing extraordinary or alarming.
By Saturday morning however, the winds whipped up and heading outside the house was near impossible. Piper and I played indoors and cooked pancakes for lunch to pass the time, it was after cooking the pancakes I turned around and noticed just how bad the weather had turned.
That evening not long after putting Piper to bed the storm took a severe, turn. Although the windows and doors were all locked the wind was whistling through every crack and a layer of sand was settling on everything indoors. It was about this time out the corner of my eye I watched our large, balcony couch cushion base sail up into the air and over the balcony into the beyond. I then had to brave the winds and scramble to pull everything from the balconies inside (I had actually completed this the day before, and wrongly assumed I had removed anything that could fly away). On the upside I got a free sandblasted facial!
Everything not secured at the building site of the new mosque next door was bashing and crashing, visibility was non existent and cars on the road below were basically stopping and parking to wait out the storm.
Then the rain came, and with it all the drama when you combine water and Dubai (the once or twice a year that it actually happens).
Let's just say with Naz still in Australia I did not sleep a lot that night. The wind and rain eventually eased and so too the constant police sirens, honking horns and screeching car tyres navigating the wet roads around us.
I have to admit I was actually pretty freaked out on Saturday night, and I have been quite happy to read in the paper over the last few days that even hardened locals were concerned, while others have commented there hasn't been a storm like it in 20 years!
On Thursday local news reported sandstorm warnings for the weekend, not unusual for this time of year as the temperatures start climbing towards summer. The media was full of warnings to stay indoors and reminders of the effects on respiratory health.
Friday was pretty standard, lots of sand and dust in the air and the strange yellow haze that comes with it. But nothing extraordinary or alarming.
By Saturday morning however, the winds whipped up and heading outside the house was near impossible. Piper and I played indoors and cooked pancakes for lunch to pass the time, it was after cooking the pancakes I turned around and noticed just how bad the weather had turned.
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| View from our balcony early in the afternoon, on a clear day we can see the Burj Al Arab in the distance! |
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| Taken from a friends apartment on Sheikh Zayed Road later in the afternoon (this was the only time we left the house, to briefly celebrate a birthday) |
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| On the left is our usual view over Downtown and the Burj Khalifa from our living room. On the right is our view on Saturday afternoon. |
Everything not secured at the building site of the new mosque next door was bashing and crashing, visibility was non existent and cars on the road below were basically stopping and parking to wait out the storm.
Then the rain came, and with it all the drama when you combine water and Dubai (the once or twice a year that it actually happens).
Let's just say with Naz still in Australia I did not sleep a lot that night. The wind and rain eventually eased and so too the constant police sirens, honking horns and screeching car tyres navigating the wet roads around us.
I have to admit I was actually pretty freaked out on Saturday night, and I have been quite happy to read in the paper over the last few days that even hardened locals were concerned, while others have commented there hasn't been a storm like it in 20 years!
How was your weekend?
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