Rare torrential rains in the United Arab Emirates forced schools to close on Wednesday and created traffic nightmares in the desert country, while neighbouring Saudi Arabia and Kuwait shivered.
Pupils received an unexpected day off in Dubai, and five other emirates in the seven-member UAE were also ordered by the education ministry to shut on Wednesday and Thursday because of unstable weather.
Abu Dhabi, the largest emirate and federal capital, was excluded. The traffic chaos and frigid weather also led to a number of deaths around the region. Hundreds of accidents were reported as vehicles skidded and nerves frayed.
Five people were killed and 1,307 accidents recorded on Tuesday amid forecasts of more rain, according to the Abu Dhabi-based daily Al-Ittihad. Heavy rains have also lashed tiny gas-rich Qatar for nearly a week as temperatures dropped to an unusually low seven degrees Celsius (45 Fahrenheit), and authorities reported 1,200 drainage operations.