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Tours (France) weather

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Forecast days

Seven day forecast for tours.

Our weather symbols tell you the weather conditions for any given hour in the day or night. This means that the symbol for 9am shows you what you will see from 9am to 10am.

Chance of precipitation represents how likely it is that rain (or other types of precipitation, such as sleet, snow, hail or drizzle) will fall from the sky at a certain time.

This number shows the air temperature for the time period. You can see the temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit by using the dropdown menu.

Feels like temperature considers other factors, such as wind speed and humidity. This gives you a better idea of how the temperature will actually feel at the time.

Wind gust shows the highest wind speed that you should encounter at that time, as winds peak and lull.

Strong winds are shown in bold for speeds of 29 mph or more.

The arrow shows the direction the wind is blowing. The letters show the direction the wind is blowing from (on a standard 16-point compass).

The number represents the average wind speed expected at that time.

The arrow shows the direction of the wind (up is north). If the arrow points from land to sea, the wind will be blowing out to sea (‘offshore’). The number is the average wind speed.

Beware of offshore winds if you are using inflatables, paddle boards or kayaks. These winds can blow you out to sea. Read more about how wind will affect you at the beach.

Visibility measures the distance at which an object can be clearly seen.

Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air. If there is a lot of water vapour, the humidity will be high. The higher the percentage of humidity, the wetter it will feel outside.

UV exposure index and the protection required to help keep you safe:

- No risk of UV - It’s safe to stay outside. 1-2 Low - You can safely stay outside. Consider sunscreen in direct sunlight. 3-5 Moderate - Take care during midday hours and do not spend too much time in the sun unprotected. Sunscreen advised. 6-7 High - Seek shade during midday hours, cover up and wear sunscreen. 8-10 Very high - Spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm. Shirt, sunscreen and hat are essential. 11 Extreme - Avoid being outside during midday hours. Shirt, sunscreen and hat essential.

This is the average height of the waves, 1-2 miles out to sea. The height of the waves can vary. The individual waves out to sea or at the beach can be higher than this number. If you are close to the water, keep an eye on the waves to stop you or your belongings being swept away.

Read more about calculating the expected height of the waves at the beach.

This is the average number of seconds between one wave and the next, 1-2 miles out to sea. A long wave period (more than 10 seconds) means the waves at the beach may be more powerful. Lifeguards can give you advice on waves if you’re planning to go into the water.

Read more about the period of waves.

The arrow shows the average direction of the waves 1-2 miles out to sea. It indicates how sheltered the beach will be from these waves. If the arrow points towards land, most of the waves’ power will reach the beach. If the arrow is parallel to or pointing away from land, the wave height is likely to be lower on the beach than it is offshore.

Lifeguards can give you advice on waves if you’re planning to go into the water.

Forecast row information

Uk video forecast, nearest forecasts.

• Chasseneuil Du Poitou 54.0 miles
• Poitiers 59.0 miles
• Angers-Marct 59.7 miles
• Chateauroux-Deols 61.4 miles
• Orleans-Bricy 63.7 miles
• Orleans 66.8 miles
• Nantes 105 miles
• Nantes Aeroport Atlantique 109 miles
• Limoges-Bellegarde 109 miles
• La-roche-sur-Yon 109 miles

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Tours, France Weather

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Temperature

Tours Weather

Feels 1 °c

Sunrise: 06:55 AM

Moonrise: 07:37 PM

Sunset: 08:57 PM

Moonset: 06:19 AM

Illum: 96.3

Tours Weather Now

Time in Tours is Mon 22 nd Apr 2:10 am

Tours, France Weather This Week

Tours, France weather forecasted for the next 10 days will have maximum temperature of 18°c / 64°f on Mon 06. Min temperature will be 0°c / 32°f on Tue 23. Most precipitation falling will be 4.12 mm / 0.16 inch on Fri 26. Windiest day is expected to see wind of up to 30 kmph / 18 mph on Thu 02. Visit 3 Hourly , Hourly and Historical section to get in-depth weather forecast information for Tours, France.

Tours, France Weather Today and Tomorrow

Tours, france weather calendar, tours weather meteogram, click on map below to get weather for any location, best months to visit tours.

August and June are the best month to go for holiday or travel to Tours. The weather averages gathered from Tours weather forecast and Tours weather history also forecast these months temperature to be around 26°c and average of 206.5333 hours of sunshine in a month.

Coldest months of Tours?

January and February are the coldest months with temperature at around 2°c.

Which months receive most rainfall in Tours?

December and October receive most rainfall with precipitation count of 81.92mm.

Travelling to Tours? Check out our Weather averages of Tours to better plan your holiday or travel.

If you would just like to know what the weather was for a past dates for research or education or you are just curious then visit our historical weather of Tours section.

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Tours Holiday Weather Overview

Tours, France is known for its wines. The city, one of the largest in central France, is famous for a variety of events. The Battle of Tours put the city on the map in French history; however, the Paris-Tours cycling race has launched the area into modern-day notoriety. 

When is the best month to visit Tours?

Summer, (June to August) boasts the best weather for touring and sight seeing. During the winter, (December to February), Tours weather can be harsh, making excursions and day trips more difficult. Summertime allows visitors to enjoy the town, which is best seen on foot or bicycle.

Climate in Tours

Relatively cool year round, Tours sits at an elevation of 108m above sea level. Winter (December to February) sees the coldest time in the city, with highs averaging only 5 °C to 6 °C. The hottest time of the year (July to August) still stays relatively cool with temperatures around 19 °C. Weather in Tours rarely reaches temperatures greater than 20 °C, and due to the elevation stays cold most of the year.

Tours, a city in central France, enjoys a temperate maritime climate that features warm to hot summer and cool winter.

Summer in Tours

During summer months, from June till early September, life in Tours becomes enjoyable with pleasant heat and a great level of sunshine. The average high climbs to mid teens while the low fluctuates between 17-20°C. Although the season gets heavy yet sudden rainfall, it is one of the most preferable seasons to visit Tours.

Autumn in Tours

Autumn, October and November, experiences colder temperature with the average high of 14°C in October and 8°C in November. On the other hand, the regular low falls below 8°C in October and 3°C in November. Throughout the season, it receives only four hours of sunshine per day.

Winter in Tours

The average high in winter, from December till February, drops to 6°C. On the other hand, the average low gets down to 1°C for the whole season. Tourists try to avoid the season although relatively the season remains warmer than many other cities. The period receives a little rainfall that can spoil your plan and make the situation worsened.

Spring in Tours

Spring, from March till May, appears with warmer weather in Tours. The average high temperature climbs around 13°C in March, 15°C in April and around 20 °C in May although nighttime remains cold enough. The sun returns in the skies of Tours. In fact, it the best season to visit Tours.

What to pack and wear in Tours?

As weather in Tours remains cold throughout the year, warm clothing is a must for Tours. Evenings can see temperatures drop significantly, and warm jackets are essential. Tours weather makes gloves, hats, and boots advisable, especially during winter (December to February). Umbrellas and rain gear are also wise as Tours receives scattered showers nearly year round.

POIs near Tours

Destinations

Cities/Towns

• Saint-Cyr-Sur-Loire
• Saint-Pierre-Des-Corps
• Joue-Les-Tours
• Saint-Avertin
• Saint-Genouph
• Rochecorbon
• La Ville-Aux-Dames

Golf Courses

Football Stadiums

Global City Weather

Climate & Weather Averages in Tours, Centre-Val de Loire, France

Annual weather averages near tours.

Averages are for Tours Airport, which is 7 kilometers from Tours.

Based on weather reports collected during 1992–2021.

All Year Climate & Weather Averages in Tours

High Temp: 26 °C

Low Temp: 2 °C

Mean Temp: 12 °C

Precipitation: 56.6 mm

Humidity: 78%

Dew Point: 8 °C

Wind: 24 km/h

Pressure: 1017 mbar

Visibility: 16 km

January Climate & Weather Averages in Tours

High Temp: 8 °C

Mean Temp: 5 °C

Precipitation: 66.6 mm

Humidity: 88%

Dew Point: 3 °C

Wind: 27 km/h

Pressure: 1020 mbar

Visibility: 11 km

February Climate & Weather Averages in Tours

High Temp: 10 °C

Mean Temp: 6 °C

Precipitation: 52.5 mm

Humidity: 83%

Visibility: 12 km

March Climate & Weather Averages in Tours

High Temp: 13 °C

Low Temp: 4 °C

Mean Temp: 9 °C

Precipitation: 46.5 mm

Humidity: 76%

Dew Point: 4 °C

Wind: 26 km/h

Pressure: 1018 mbar

Visibility: 14 km

April Climate & Weather Averages in Tours

High Temp: 16 °C

Low Temp: 6 °C

Mean Temp: 11 °C

Humidity: 72%

Dew Point: 6 °C

Wind: 25 km/h

Pressure: 1015 mbar

Visibility: 17 km

May Climate & Weather Averages in Tours

High Temp: 20 °C

Low Temp: 9 °C

Mean Temp: 14 °C

Precipitation: 62.6 mm

Humidity: 74%

Dew Point: 9 °C

Pressure: 1016 mbar

Visibility: 18 km

June Climate & Weather Averages in Tours

High Temp: 24 °C

Low Temp: 12 °C

Mean Temp: 18 °C

Precipitation: 55.0 mm

Humidity: 70%

Dew Point: 12 °C

Wind: 22 km/h

July Climate & Weather Averages in Tours

Low Temp: 14 °C

Mean Temp: 20 °C

Precipitation: 49.6 mm

Humidity: 67%

Dew Point: 13 °C

Visibility: 20 km

August Climate & Weather Averages in Tours

Precipitation: 43.2 mm

Wind: 21 km/h

September Climate & Weather Averages in Tours

High Temp: 22 °C

Low Temp: 11 °C

Mean Temp: 17 °C

Precipitation: 49.5 mm

Humidity: 73%

Dew Point: 11 °C

October Climate & Weather Averages in Tours

High Temp: 17 °C

Mean Temp: 13 °C

Precipitation: 62.8 mm

Dew Point: 10 °C

Wind: 23 km/h

Visibility: 15 km

November Climate & Weather Averages in Tours

High Temp: 12 °C

Low Temp: 5 °C

Mean Temp: 8 °C

Precipitation: 73.0 mm

December Climate & Weather Averages in Tours

High Temp: 9 °C

Low Temp: 3 °C

Precipitation: 71.8 mm

Humidity: 89%

Pressure: 1019 mbar

Weather by CustomWeather, © 2024

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Tours 14 day long range forecast, 14 day weather providing an extended long range forecast outlook for tours.

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• 14 Day Forecast

For Tours in the coming two weeks the average daytime maximum temperature will be around 12°C, with a high for the two weeks of 17°C expected on the afternoon of Monday 29th. The average minimum temperature will be 4°C, dipping to its lowest on the morning of Tuesday 23rd at 0°C. Expect the coming 14 days to have some days seeing a little precipitation and some days with rain. Predictions are Friday 26th will have the most precipitation with an accumulation of around 6.0mm. On the whole winds are likely to be moderate.

Other Locations Near to Tours

The day label given represents the local day relative to the local time for the location you are looking at. (More Info)

This time is corrected for local time zones and where possible for daylight saving times. (More Info)

The wind direction we use on this page is the direction the wind is coming from, given in a 16 point compass format. (More Info)

This refers to the sustained average wind speed , normally averaged over a period of 10 minutes for up to 3 hrs. (More Info)

Temperature from our forecast perspective are fairly well defined, they are what we would expect to measure in a standard meteorological screen (in other words, shaded and well ventilated) at 2 metres above ground level. (More Info)

The relative humidity is the percent of saturation humidity, generally calculated in relation to saturated vapour density. (More Info)

The value given is a total predicted for the previous 3 hrs and includes the time of the forecast being looked at. (More Info)

The total amount of cloud as a percentage is derived from looking at cloud cover throughout the atmosphere and estimating how these combine when looked at from the ground. (More Info)

Here we try to capture the feel of the weather as an image � it will never be perfect but is useful for a quick overview. (More Info)

When we measure for forecast air pressure we are normally doing this relative to a certain height and most commonly relative to Mean Sea Level. (More Info)

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Climate and monthly weather forecast Tours , France

The climate of Tours

The best time to visit tours, the worst time to visit tours, spring weather in tours, summer weather in tours, autumn weather in tours, winter weather in tours, weather in january, weather in february, weather in march, weather in april, weather in may, weather in june, weather in july, weather in august, weather in september, weather in october, weather in november, weather in december, frequently asked questions.

• Average temperature
• Average pressure
• Average wind speed
• Average humidity
• Average rainfall
• Average rainfall days
• Average snowfall
• Average snowfall days
• Average daylight
• Average sunshine
• Average sunshine days
• Average UV index
• Average cloud cover
• Average visibility

What month is the coldest in Tours?

What is the most humid month in tours, how much does it rain in tours, when does it snow in tours, how much does it snow in tours, what is the month with the least sunshine in tours, what are the months with the lowest uv index in tours, when does it snow the most in tours, when it does not snow in tours, what is the rainiest month in tours, what are the months with the highest uv index in tours, when are the longest days in tours, what month has the most sunshine in tours, what is the hottest time of year in tours, what is the least humid month in tours, what is the driest month in tours, when is daylight saving time (dst) in tours, what is the month with the shortest days in tours, average temperature tours, france.

• Average high temperature in January : 7°C
• Average high temperature in February : 8.3°C
• Average high temperature in March : 12.3°C
• Average high temperature in April : 15.8°C
• Average high temperature in May : 18.3°C
• Average high temperature in June : 21.8°C
• Average high temperature in July : 24.4°C
• Average high temperature in August : 24.8°C
• Average high temperature in September : 21.6°C
• Average high temperature in October : 16.9°C
• Average high temperature in November : 11.3°C
• Average high temperature in December : 8.2°C

The warmest month (with the highest average high temperature) is August (24.8°C). The month with the lowest average high temperature is January (7°C).

• Average low temperature in January : 2.2°C
• Average low temperature in February : 2.1°C
• Average low temperature in March : 3.8°C
• Average low temperature in April : 6.3°C
• Average low temperature in May : 9°C
• Average low temperature in June : 12.5°C
• Average low temperature in July : 14.3°C
• Average low temperature in August : 14.3°C
• Average low temperature in September : 11.8°C
• Average low temperature in October : 9.5°C
• Average low temperature in November : 6.4°C
• Average low temperature in December : 3.5°C

The months with the highest average low temperature are July and August (14.3°C). The coldest month (with the lowest average low temperature) is February (2.1°C).

Average pressure Tours, France

• Average pressure in January : 1018.5mbar
• Average pressure in February : 1017mbar
• Average pressure in March : 1016.8mbar
• Average pressure in April : 1015.6mbar
• Average pressure in May : 1016.9mbar
• Average pressure in June : 1016.7mbar
• Average pressure in July : 1016.9mbar
• Average pressure in August : 1016.9mbar
• Average pressure in September : 1018.2mbar
• Average pressure in October : 1017.1mbar
• Average pressure in November : 1013.9mbar
• Average pressure in December : 1019.5mbar

The month with the highest atmospheric pressure is December (1019.5mbar). The month with the lowest atmospheric pressure is November (1013.9mbar).

Average wind speed Tours, France

• Average wind speed in January : 16.3km/h
• Average wind speed in February : 17.1km/h
• Average wind speed in March : 15.8km/h
• Average wind speed in April : 13km/h
• Average wind speed in May : 12.9km/h
• Average wind speed in June : 12km/h
• Average wind speed in July : 11.4km/h
• Average wind speed in August : 10.9km/h
• Average wind speed in September : 11.6km/h
• Average wind speed in October : 13.1km/h
• Average wind speed in November : 15.2km/h
• Average wind speed in December : 16.5km/h

The windiest month (with the highest average wind speed) is February (17.1km/h). The calmest month (with the lowest average wind speed) is August (10.9km/h).

Average humidity Tours, France

• Average humidity in January : 87%
• Average humidity in February : 84%
• Average humidity in March : 80%
• Average humidity in April : 78%
• Average humidity in May : 81%
• Average humidity in June : 81%
• Average humidity in July : 75%
• Average humidity in August : 71%
• Average humidity in September : 73%
• Average humidity in October : 79%
• Average humidity in November : 86%
• Average humidity in December : 87%

The months with the highest relative humidity are January and December (87%). The month with the lowest relative humidity is August (71%).

Average rainfall Tours, France

• Average rainfall in January : 37mm
• Average rainfall in February : 34mm
• Average rainfall in March : 37mm
• Average rainfall in April : 39mm
• Average rainfall in May : 55mm
• Average rainfall in June : 51mm
• Average rainfall in July : 31mm
• Average rainfall in August : 28mm
• Average rainfall in September : 29mm
• Average rainfall in October : 42mm
• Average rainfall in November : 55mm
• Average rainfall in December : 55mm

The wettest months (with the highest rainfall) are May , November and December (55mm). The driest month (with the least rainfall) is August (28mm).

Average rainfall days Tours, France

• Average rainfall days in January : 14.3 days
• Average rainfall days in February : 12.4 days
• Average rainfall days in March : 14.5 days
• Average rainfall days in April : 14.3 days
• Average rainfall days in May : 16.8 days
• Average rainfall days in June : 16 days
• Average rainfall days in July : 14.2 days
• Average rainfall days in August : 10.7 days
• Average rainfall days in September : 10.7 days
• Average rainfall days in October : 12 days
• Average rainfall days in November : 15.8 days
• Average rainfall days in December : 14.2 days

The month with the highest number of rainy days is May (16.8 days). The months with the least rainy days are August and September (10.7 days).

Average snowfall Tours, France

• Average snowfall in January : 9mm
• Average snowfall in February : 11mm
• Average snowfall in March : 1mm
• Average snowfall in April : 0mm
• Average snowfall in May : 0mm
• Average snowfall in June : 0mm
• Average snowfall in July : 0mm
• Average snowfall in August : 0mm
• Average snowfall in September : 0mm
• Average snowfall in October : 0mm
• Average snowfall in November : 2mm
• Average snowfall in December : 3mm

The month with the highest snowfall is February (11mm). The months with the least snowfall are April , May , June , July , August , September and October (0mm).

Average snowfall days Tours, France

• Average snowfall days in January : 1.6 days
• Average snowfall days in February : 1.4 days
• Average snowfall days in March : 0.2 days
• Average snowfall days in April : 0 days
• Average snowfall days in May : 0 days
• Average snowfall days in June : 0 days
• Average snowfall days in July : 0 days
• Average snowfall days in August : 0 days
• Average snowfall days in September : 0 days
• Average snowfall days in October : 0 days
• Average snowfall days in November : 0.5 days
• Average snowfall days in December : 1.1 days

The month with the highest number of snowfall days is January (1.6 days). The months with the least snowfall days are April , May , June , July , August , September and October (0 days).

Average daylight / Average sunshine Tours, France

• Average daylight in January : 9h and 0min
• Average daylight in February : 10h and 2min
• Average daylight in March : 11h and 5min
• Average daylight in April : 13h and 4min
• Average daylight in May : 15h and 1min
• Average daylight in June : 15h and 5min
• Average daylight in July : 15h and 3min
• Average daylight in August : 14h and 1min
• Average daylight in September : 12h and 4min
• Average daylight in October : 10h and 5min
• Average daylight in November : 9h and 2min
• Average daylight in December : 8h and 3min

The month with the longest days is June (Average daylight: 15h and 54min). The month with the shortest days is December (Average daylight: 8h and 30min).

• Average sunshine in January : 4h and 1min
• Average sunshine in February : 5h and 5min
• Average sunshine in March : 6h and 2min
• Average sunshine in April : 7h and 2min
• Average sunshine in May : 8h and 2min
• Average sunshine in June : 8h and 2min
• Average sunshine in July : 9h and 2min
• Average sunshine in August : 9h and 0min
• Average sunshine in September : 7h and 5min
• Average sunshine in October : 6h and 2min
• Average sunshine in November : 4h and 2min
• Average sunshine in December : 4h and 3min

The month with the most sunshine is July (Average sunshine: 9h and 24min). The month with the least sunshine is January (Average sunshine: 4h and 6min).

Average sunshine days Tours, France

• Average sunshine days in January : 12.8 days
• Average sunshine days in February : 12.4 days
• Average sunshine days in March : 14.4 days
• Average sunshine days in April : 13.8 days
• Average sunshine days in May : 11.5 days
• Average sunshine days in June : 11.8 days
• Average sunshine days in July : 13.9 days
• Average sunshine days in August : 16.9 days
• Average sunshine days in September : 17.6 days
• Average sunshine days in October : 16.1 days
• Average sunshine days in November : 11.7 days
• Average sunshine days in December : 14.5 days

The month with the most sunshine days is September (17.6 days). The month with the least sunshine days is May (11.5 days).

Average UV index Tours, France

• Average UV index in January : 2
• Average UV index in February : 2
• Average UV index in March : 3
• Average UV index in April : 3
• Average UV index in May : 5
• Average UV index in June : 5
• Average UV index in July : 5
• Average UV index in August : 5
• Average UV index in September : 4
• Average UV index in October : 4
• Average UV index in November : 2
• Average UV index in December : 2

The months with the highest UV index are May , June , July and August (UV index 5). The months with the lowest UV index are January , February , November and December (UV index 2).

Average cloud cover Tours, France

• Average cloud cover in January : 58
• Average cloud cover in February : 53
• Average cloud cover in March : 48
• Average cloud cover in April : 43
• Average cloud cover in May : 46
• Average cloud cover in June : 46
• Average cloud cover in July : 37
• Average cloud cover in August : 35
• Average cloud cover in September : 35
• Average cloud cover in October : 43
• Average cloud cover in November : 56
• Average cloud cover in December : 54

The month with the most cloud cover is January (Cloud cover 58). The months with the least cloud cover are August and September (Cloud cover 35).

Average visibility Tours, France

• Average visibility in January : 9km
• Average visibility in February : 9km
• Average visibility in March : 9km
• Average visibility in April : 9km
• Average visibility in May : 9km
• Average visibility in June : 9km
• Average visibility in July : 9km
• Average visibility in August : 9km
• Average visibility in September : 9km
• Average visibility in October : 9km
• Average visibility in November : 9km
• Average visibility in December : 9km

The months with the highest visibility are January , February , March , April , May , June , July , August , September , October , November and December (9km). The months with the lowest visibility are January , February , March , April , May , June , July , August , September , October , November and December (9km).

Tours, France

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Dubai floods: Chaos, queues and submerged cars after UAE hit by record rains

Passengers report being stranded in the desert city as the international hub struggles in the wake of unusually heavy rain

Don’t blame cloud seeding for the Dubai floods

Dubai is wrestling with the aftermath of extraordinary torrential rains that flooded the desert city, with people describing harrowing stories of spending the night in their cars, and air passengers enduring chaotic scenes at airports.

Up to 259.5mm (10.2in) of rain fell on the usually arid country of the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, the most since records began 75 years ago . The state-run WAM news agency called the rains on Tuesday “a historic weather event” that surpassed “anything documented since the start of data collection in 1949”.

As the sun returned on Wednesday, along with it came stories of people stuck in cars and offices through an arduous night.

“It was one of the most horrific situations I had ever experienced,” said one Dubai resident in his 30s, who did not want to give his name, after his 15-minute commute turned into a 12-hour ordeal on flooded roads.

At Dubai’s airport, one of the busiest for international travel, with nearly every flight repeatedly delayed, Emirates passengers were told to stay away “unless absolutely necessary”.

Frustration from those already there began to build.

A large crowd formed at a connections desk, clapping and whistling in protest as they waited for information.

“They are completely lost, it’s complete chaos – no information, nothing,” fumed one passenger, who did not want to be named, after a 12-hour wait, Agence France-Presse reported.

Standing water lapped on taxiways as aircraft landed. One couple called the situation “absolute carnage”. They spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity in order to speak freely in a country with strict laws that criminalise critical speech. “You cannot get a taxi. There’s people sleeping in the Metro station. There’s people sleeping in the airport.”

The BBC reported other passengers were diverted to Dubai World Central Airport – also known as Al Maktoum airport – telling the broadcaster they had been “living on duty free” and that water was in short supply.

One furious British traveller told PA Media that once his flight was diverted to Dubai World Central, he had not been given any food or water either. “It’s just been an absolute disaster. We’re stuck here and seven hours without a single update is inexcusable.”

Emirates, Dubai’s flagship airline, posted on X on Wednesday night: “Customers should expect delays with departures and arrivals” and that while some passengers had been able to get to their destinations “we are aware that many are still waiting to get on flights”.

The airline cancelled all check-ins and announced that it would continue to suspend services until Thursday morning, apologising for the disruptions. Those on FlyDubai, Emirates’ low-cost sister airline, also faced delays.

Dubai airport posted on X early on Thursday that flights had resumed from Terminal 1 but urged people to travel to the airport only if they had a confirmed booking, as flights continued to be “delayed and disrupted”.

Paul Griffiths, the airport’s CEO, acknowledged the issues with flooding on Wednesday. “It remains an incredibly challenging time. In living memory, I don’t think anyone has ever seen conditions like it,” Griffiths told the state-owned talk radio station Dubai Eye.

Neighbouring countries were also hit by heavy rains earlier this week, including Oman, where 20 people have died, including 10 schoolchildren swept away in a vehicle with an adult.

Soldiers were deployed to badly affected areas of the sultanate, which rests on the eastern edge of the Arabian peninsula, to evacuate people trapped by flooding.

Schools will stay closed in Dubai until next week, authorities said, underscoring the difficulty of the clean-up.

In an unusual direct intervention, the UAE president, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ordered “authorities to quickly work on studying the condition of infrastructure throughout the UAE and to limit the damage caused”, official media said.

The president also gave orders for affected families to be transferred to safe locations, said a statement carried by the WAM news agency.

Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, wrote on X about “efforts being made by teams of citizens and residents that continue day and night” as the city’s media office posted video overlayed with dramatic music of officials conferring in groups and water pumping appearing to take place in the background.

Photos too were posted of what it said showed water flooding into desert areas.

صور من جريان الأودية في صحراء القدرة في #دبي pic.twitter.com/pyXP8OpBVF — Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 17, 2024

Similar scenes were visible around the Gulf state including in Sharjah, in neighbouring Dubai, where people waded through main streets and paddled around on makeshift boats.

At least one person was killed in the flooding. A 70-year-old man who was swept away in his car in Ras al-Khaimah, one of the country’s seven emirates, according to police.

The UAE government announced that remote working for most federal government employees had been extended into another day because of the impact.

Agence France-Presse, PA Media and Associated Press contributed to this report

• United Arab Emirates
• Middle East and north Africa
• Extreme weather
• Air transport

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Heavy rains lash Middle East, disrupting flights in Dubai after killing 20 in region

Authorities and communities across the United Arab Emirates were clearing debris on Wednesday after heavy rain subsided late on Tuesday.

Dubai, the Middle East's financial centre, has been paralysed by torrential rain that has caused floods across the UAE and Bahrain, leaving 19 dead in Oman and at least one in the UAE.

Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest air hub for international passengers, diverted scores of incoming flights amid the flooding. DBX was expecting more than 100 flight arrivals on Tuesday evening.

But the airport announced a halt to arrivals before announcing a "gradual resumption" more than two hours later.

Videos on social media showed planes taxiing across an apron flooded with standing water.

Departure flights remained in operation during the evening but were plagued with delays and cancellations. Roads to the airport were also badly flooded.

Similar scenes were repeated across Dubai and elsewhere in the UAE as the oil-rich Gulf state, better known for its arid climate and intense summer heat, reeled from the storm.

Year's worth of rain in 24 hours

Flagship shopping centres Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates both suffered flooding.

Water was ankle-deep in at least one Dubai Metro station, according to images posted on social media.

Some roads collapsed, residential communities were hit by heavy flooding and many householders reported leaks from roofs, doors and windows.

Schools were shut across the UAE and were expected to remain closed on Wednesday, when further storms are forecast. Dubai's government also extended remote working for its employees into Wednesday.

Some inland areas of the UAE recorded more than 80 millimetres of rain over the 24 hours to 8am, approaching the annual average of about 100mm.

The National Center for Meteorology "urged residents to take all the precautions … and to stay away from areas of flooding and water accumulation".

The Asian Champions League football semifinal between the UAE's Al Ain and Saudi side Al Hilal, due to be hosted in Al Ain, was postponed for 24 hours because of the weather.

Climate-fuelled flooding

Bahrain, to the UAE's north-west, was also hit by heavy rain and flooding after being pummelled by thunder and lightning overnight.

"I like to play in the rain but for the first time it scares me," said nine-year-old Ali Hassan, as he helped his mother clear water from outside their house in Bahrain's capital, Manama.

The storms descended on the UAE, Bahrain and parts of Qatar after hitting Oman, where they caused deadly floods and left dozens stranded.

A child's body was recovered on Tuesday, taking the death toll to 18 with two people missing, emergency authorities told the official Oman News Agency.

Nine schoolchildren and three adults died when their vehicles were swept away in flash floods, the news agency reported on Sunday.

Both Oman and the UAE, which hosted last year's COP28 UN climate talks, have previously warned that global warming is likely to lead to more flooding.

Friederike Otto, a leader in the field of assessing the role of climate change on specific extreme weather events, said it was likely that global warming played a part in this week's rain.

"It is highly likely that the deadly and destructive rain in Oman and Dubai was made heavier by human-caused climate change," said Ms Otto, of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change at Imperial College London.

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