In the UAE, 22 cloud-seeding missions have been conducted since June, contributing to recent rains, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).

More rains are expected in the country this weekend — particularly between Fujairah and Sharjah, and between Al Ain and Dubai, a top NCM official said.

“We conduct cloud seeding operations every year whenever there are convective clouds. This increases the amount of rainfall. But it’s important to note that these operations increase the amount of rainfall, it doesn’t create rain,” said Dr Ahmed Habib from the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).

"From June to August 9, we have conducted 22 cloud-seeding operations."

What is cloud-seeding and how is it done in the UAE?

Cloud seeding is a method of boosting a cloud's capacity to produce rain.

Key to this process is spotting convective clouds — which are perfect for the mission because of their rain-bearing capacity. A special aircraft would shoot salt flares into these clouds to enhance rainfall.

Rain enhancement missions began in the UAE in the late 1990s, and since then, there has been an increase in cloud-seeding operations every year.

Will there be more rain in the coming days?

Until Saturday, there are chances of convective cloud formation associated with rainfall, Habib said. Showers could be of different intensities, accompanies by lightning and thunder at times in some parts of the country — especially in the east, south, and extending towards some internal areas and Al Dhafrah region.

"Actually, in this season, we are affected by the Indian monsoon. So, there is an extension of this effect in our areas as well. This is sometimes strong and at other times weak — but last week, this effect was strong," the NCM official said.

"We are expecting that over the next few days...especially this weekend, similar waves are coming towards the east," he added

Something known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone or ITCZ is affecting the region during this period. With the rise in temperatures during the day, local rainy convective clouds are expected to form.

Explaining why the UAE experienced rainstorms last week, Habib said: “The country was under the effect of the extension of the easterly flow that’s typically associated with low pressure. This was happening in the surface layer and the upper layers. This caused a humid air mass that came from the Oman Sea and the Arabian Sea — and finally reached our area."

"As it reached the surface layer, it spread from the eastern part of the UAE to the mountains in the east. In combination, all of these factors result in convective clouds forming in the east and sometimes in the south. Strong winds cause heavy rain and even hail," he said.