Egyptian weather authority warns of thunderstorm rains, flash floods

Egypt's General Authority of Meteorology has warned of thunderstorm rains that could reach flash-flood levels in parts of Sinai and the Red Sea governorate on Saturday.

• The authority forecast light-to-medium, occasionally thundery rain over central and southern Upper Egypt.
• It said thunderclouds are moving eastward toward Gulf of Aqaba coasts, with rain reaching flash-flood levels in central and southern Sinai and the Red Sea governorate.
• The authority warned the clouds may bring strong winds and lightning strikes, urging caution in areas exposed to thundery rain.
• It set the expected high in Greater Cairo at 30°C, with hot daytime weather turning cool at night.
• Heavy rainfall hit Taba in South Sinai, prompting Governor Ismail Kamal to declare a state of maximum emergency and order road clearing and drainage activation.
• The authority said thunderstorm clouds continue to develop over central and southern Sinai and parts of Hurghada, with variable-intensity rain expected.
• It warned that a high cloud cover is advancing toward the northwestern coasts, the Western Desert, and northern Upper Egypt, partially blocking sunlight.