A Micro-bus passes through a flooded street in Alexandria (Photo: Al-Ahram)
Egypt is witnessing the peak of unstable weather conditions on Friday with a drop in temperature and rainfall in most of the regions, according to the Egyptian Meteorological Authority (EMA).
According to the Head of the Forecast Department at the EMA Mahmoud Chahin, most of the regions in Egypt will see moderate to high intense rainfall that might even result in thunderstorms in some parts of the country.
“In the early hours of Friday, rain and thunderstorms hit from Salloum to Alexandria; then the rain moved gradually to the Delta, and then to the Eastern coast till it reached Cairo,” explained Chahin.
According to the EMA, this wave of unstable weather will continue in Egypt until Tuesday, however its intensity will decrease gradually.
Due to the bad weather conditions, the Alexandria governorate has asked earlier Friday that citizens are not to leave their homes except for necessities and to drive safely as well as not to stand under old, decayed balconies.
The governorate also warned against standing in open spaces during thunderstorms.
In Alexandria, four people were killed and five were injured in the collapse of two residential buildings in Al-Gomrok and Karmouz districts following Friday's thunderstorm and heavy rain.
A woman and two children were killed and another one injured when a four- floor residential building totally collapsed in El-Gomrok district .
In Karmouz district, a three-floor building partially collapsed killing a person and injuring four others.
Photos of over flooded streets in Alexandria during the rain went viral with warnings of going out in this unstable weather.
Cairo governorate also issued a similar warning like Alexandra , calling citizens to stay at home and to drive cautiously if they have to leave their homes for any necessity.
According to the EMA’s weather forecasts, Cairo may witness light to moderate rain by 50 per cent chance while the Nile Delta region may witness moderate to heavy rain by 60 per cent chance.
Alexandria and the western North coast region may witness heavy rain and thunderstorms by 90 per cent while the eastern North coast may witness heavy rain for 80 per cent.
While the rest of the country may witness light to moderate rain of 40 per cent.
On Saturday, Cairo will see highs ranging between 22 degrees Celsius and lows of 14 degrees. The northern coast of Egypt will see highs ranging between 23 degrees and lows of 18 degrees. The Nile Delta will see highs ranging between 22 degrees and lows of 14degrees. While South Sinai will see highs of 25 and lows of 14 degrees Celsius.
Additionally, northern Upper Egypt will see highs of 23 throughout the three days with lows ranging from 14 degrees, while Upper Egypt will see highs of 23 degrees and lows of 14 degrees.
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