Such an episode is very rare in this country, which is particularly exposed to global warming.
A rare hailstorm in Kuwait, one of the hottest desert countries on the planet, cheered residents on Wednesday as scientists worried regarding consequences of climate change on this wealthy Gulf state.
“We haven’t seen such a large amount of hail in winter for 15 years,” former director of Kuwait’s meteorology department, Mohammed Karam, told AFP.
Hail fell on Wednesday but also on Tuesday in Oum al-Haiman, regarding 50 kilometers south of the capital bearing the same name as the country. Children donned warm clothes to pick up hailstones, while netizens flooded social media with photos and videos of roads partially covered in hail.
Up to 63 millimeters of rain fell in some areas, the weather services said, saying the weather was expected to improve from Wednesday.
The country is in danger of becoming unlivable
While hailstorms are “rare” in Kuwait, they might increase in coming years due to global climate change, warns Mohammed Karam.
The Gulf Statesrich in oilexperiences very high heat in summer, and risks becoming unlivable at certain times of the year with the global warming, according to scientists. In 2016, the mercury there recorded a world record, at 54 degrees Celsius.
In parts of the country, temperatures might rise by 4.5 degrees above historical averages between 2071 and 2100, according to the Public Environment Authority.
Original article published on BFMTV.com
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