Upper Egypt’s Aswan struck by heavy rains

CAIRO – 10 August 2024: Upper Egypt’s Aswan city witnessed a state of unstable weather and was struck by floods on Friday.

The unstable weather is accompanied by dusty storms that led to the suspension of the Nile navigation, Youm7 reported.

Heavy rainwater collected in the Red Sea Mountains east of the governorate and flowed into the valleys. This prompted irrigation officials in Aswan to open flood channels to absorb the water and direct it into the Nile.

They took this precaution to prevent the risk of flooding in the villages and mountainous areas of Abu al-Rish, al-Seel, and east of the city, where accumulated rainwater threatened to inundate homes.

Dr. Mohamed Ali Fahim, Head of the Climate Information Center at the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, stated that the persistent summer thunderstorms and floods in southern Egypt for the third consecutive week indicate that the country is facing significant climate changes.

Despite the rain in the southern part of the country, temperatures and humidity levels remain high, intensifying the heat throughout all regions.

Fahim explained that the recent rains were seasonal, resulting from the northward shift of the rain belt.

He noted that while summer rains have historically occurred south of the Red Sea, this year’s prolonged duration and appearance in unusual areas, even if lightly, are unprecedented.

These rains reflect broader climate changes affecting global weather patterns. The impact of these rains can be both positive and negative, with varying intensity depending on the location.