Snow in Sana’a [Archives:2007/1078/Local News]
SANA'A, Aug. 19 ) A massive wave of hailstones formed a layer of snow on the southern part of the capital city of Sana'a in inexperienced precedent.
The hailstone wave started with heavy rainfall which rapidly changed into a fall of great quantities of hailstones lasting for one hour. This wave caused damages in the Qat and coffee farms surrounding the area.
The wave resulted in breaking off some light lamps and caused traffic jams due to the sight obscurity. Worth-noting, a layer of snow appeared coving the mountains overlooking the city of Sana'a in the south east direction. Moreover, the hailstones accumulated on the roofs of the houses as well as on the streets.
The intensity of snows, as well as the big size of the hailstones, was unprecedented, making people go out from their houses to watch mountains full of snow.
Last Thursday the National Center for Meteorology warned that heavy rains, including thunderstorms, will continue to pound many governorates of Yemen for the next couple of days.
The center called on citizens in Sana'a, Taiz, Ibb, Hajjah, Sa'ada, al-Mahwit, Dhamar, Raymah, Abyan, Shabwa, Marib, al-Dhali, and al-Baidha, located in the west direction of Tihama Valley, to be cautious and prudent of floods in valleys, as well as of the collapse of dirt and rock, especially in modern roads and mountain slopes. Further, the center cautioned of low visibility resulted from the heavy rains.
According to the center's statement, the instability in the atmosphere, resulted from the continuing effects of winds from monsoons in India, will affect several governorates.
The center explained that the mountainous governorates and parts of the eastern and western areas witnessed recent thunderstorms and heavy rainfall. It further indicated that the floods have inundated the mountain slopes and valleys. Also, the air monitoring stations recorded the highest level of rainfall in Ibb governorate, totaling 22.8 millimeters, followed by Hajjah governorate with 13.6 millimeters, and then Sana'a with 6.0 millimeters, according to the center.
——
[archive-e:1078-v:15-y:2007-d:2007-08-20-p:ln]
