Watch video of UAE's 'once in a lifetime' snow fall

A blanket of snow has covered a mountain in a part of the UAE, a rare phenomenon for the desert Gulf country, according to local media reports.

Al Jees mountain, 5,700 feet (1,737 metres) above sea level and 25 kilometres (15 miles) northeast of Ras Al Khaimah city, was covered in 20 centimetres (eight inches) of snow, the state news agency WAM said.

"Although limited snowfall was recorded on the mountain some years back, for the first time the peak of the mountain was fully covered in snow," it said.

Local authorities said temperatures plunged to minus 3 degrees Celsius (26.6 Fahrenheit) on Friday and again to below zero on Saturday, The National newspaper reported.

Major Said al-Yamahi of Ras al-Khaimah police told the newspaper that an area of five square kilometres (almost two square miles) was covered in snow.

The emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai also had heavy rains on Friday and Saturday, in a spell of rare chilly weather in a desert state where summer temperatures can reach 50 Celcius (122 Fahrenheit).

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READERS' COMMENTS

Snow
Posted by Cris on Wednesday 4 February 2009 at 08:11 UAE time


This is what einstein calculated and so called " Polar Shift" frightining huh... this is the beginning of the end..

Climate change
Posted by pam, Abu Dhabi, UAE on Thursday 29 January 2009 at 14:26 UAE time


Climates have been changing since the beginning of time, even Al Gore can`t stop that. Let`s hope that we can learn to adjust to the situation rather than attempt to change it. As for Armageddon- I believe it says in the Holy Quran "live as if you`ll never die and die as if you`ve never lived". Just don`t think about it.

Climate change
Posted by pam, Abu Dhabi, UAE on Thursday 29 January 2009 at 14:24 UAE time


Climates have been changing since the beginning of time, even Al Gore can`t stop that. Let`s hope that we can learn to adjust to the situation rather than attempt to change it. As for Armageddon- I believe it says in the Holy Quran "live as if you`ll never die and die as if you`ve never lived". Just don`t think about it.

SNOW
Posted by Mpower, City Of Gold on Thursday 29 January 2009 at 09:35 UAE time


The climates are reversing, europe is getting hotter explains the floods there, similarly the gulf region is getting colder, weather change patterns will be able to explain this better maybe in a few decades the emirates will see snow in some other states as well.
Are these signs of good things to come or a warning of Armeggeddon(Qayamat) only time will tell.

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