Puddles and reservoirs are covered with ice in the mountainous areas of the UAE.

Puddles and ponds in some areas of the United Arab Emirates are covered in ice and icicles have formed on the branches of bushes. Days of heavy rain have left temperatures near freezing.

For example, the highest mountain in the UAE, Jebel Jais, had a temperature low of +1.9°C. Rainwater ponds in the mountains froze over. This week, meanwhile, variable cloudiness will prevail in the UAE, but warming will begin as early as January 31.

In 2022, the UAE previously reportedly conducted 311 cloud seeding missions, with aircraft spending more than 1,000 hours in the air. By comparison, they flew just 177 sorties in 2016.

Experts from the National Center for Meteorology previously said seeding could increase precipitation by about 30 percent in a clean atmosphere or 15 percent in a dusty atmosphere.

On average, the UAE receives 100 millimeters of rainfall each year. This water fills reservoirs, the water from which is used, among other things, for agricultural purposes. Experts claim that cloud seeding is 60 times cheaper than desalination.

Until the end of February, northern winds and Nashi winds will blow over the UAE. The average amount of precipitation will exceed 80 mm. During this period, various grasses and truffles will grow on the mountain slopes. The astronomical winter period will last until March 20, 2023.

The Ministry of Interior of the United Arab Emirates has previously urged the population to be extra vigilant on those days when the country remains unstable weather and the elements are raging.

The population was also urged to listen to weather forecasts from official sources, and to check the condition of headlights, windshield wipers and tires before driving. Driving a car in the rain should be careful and not break the speed limit.