Dubai's green sky goes viral during intense rainstorm
PTC News Desk: In recent days, Dubai encountered an unprecedented weather phenomenon as heavy rainfall engulfed the city, causing widespread disruption across the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This intense downpour, considered the heaviest in the past 75 years, disrupted normal activities and severely impacted air travel, leading to flooded streets and logistical challenges.
While images depicting the aftermath of the deluge have dominated headlines, videos and pictures capturing Dubai's sky turning an unusual shade of green have sparked widespread intrigue on social media platforms. While some users expressed astonishment at the spectacle, others interpreted it as a foreboding sign of the approaching storm.
Sky Turns GREEN In DUBAI!
Actual footage from the storm in #Dubai today. pic.twitter.com/x8kQe85Lto — Mister J. - مسٹر جے (@Angryman_J) April 16, 2024
One particularly notable video, circulated widely on social media, presents a time-lapse sequence showcasing the transformation of the typically grey sky into a hazy green hue—a telltale indication of the impending rainstorm. Posted on April 17, the 23-second clip garnered attention with its caption: “Sky turns green In Dubai! Actual footage from the storm in Dubai today.”
Actual footage from the storm in Dubai today.
You can see the sky turn GREEN!!! pic.twitter.com/A9aXgsBnkd — Steve Bambury (@steve_bambury) April 16, 2024
Another user shared similar sentiments, remarking, “Actual footage from the storm in Dubai today. You can see the sky turn GREEN!!!”
Actual footage from the storm in Dubai today.
You can see the sky turn GREEN!!! pic.twitter.com/A9aXgsBnkd — Steve Bambury (@steve_bambury) April 16, 2024
Accompanying yet another video, another user narrated, “Heavy rain in Dubai right now, live footage sky turns green the whole city looks like dusty #Dubai #rain.”
Speculation regarding the phenomenon abounded, with one user suggesting, “Usually when the sky does that, it means a tornado is coming.”
Providing further insight, another user explained, “That's supercell, tornado color. I've seen it in the deserts of southwestern United States.”
According to a Fox News report, the change in hue can be attributed to the diffusion of light by the atmosphere, illuminating ice droplets within clouds. Quoting National Weather Service authorities, the report elucidated, “Water/ice particles in storm clouds with substantial depth and water content will primarily scatter blue light. When the reddish light scattered by the atmosphere illuminates the blue water/ice droplets in the cloud, they will appear to glow green.”
The report emphasized, however, that there is “no known correlation between a blue-green sky and tornado production.”
Echoing this sentiment, a report by the University of Wisconsin–Madison cited Scott Bachmeier, a research meteorologist, who explained, “When blue objects are illuminated with red light, they appear green. Green is significant, but not proof that a tornado is on the way. A green cloud “will only occur if the cloud is very deep, which generally only occurs in thunderstorm clouds,” Mr. Bachmeier clarified, adding, “Those are the kind of storms that may produce hail and tornadoes.”
In response to the inclement weather conditions, Dubai International (DXB) advised passengers against traveling to the airport, citing delays and diversions affecting flight operations.
- With inputs from agencies
