Weather forecasters are warning conditions could intensify over the next three days as a powerful low-pressure system moves across the region.

The peak of the unstable weather is expected on Thursday night into Friday morning with heavy rain, strong winds and thunder, the National Centre of Meteorology said.

The UAE has been hit by downpours for several days now. Rain fell across the UAE on Tuesday.

Parts of Abu Dhabi and Ajman received almost a year’s worth of rain on Monday, prompting authorities to remain on alert.

The NCM reported that 93.3mm of rain fell at its gauge in Al Manama, Ajman. Ghayathi, in the west of Abu Dhabi emirate, recorded 91mm, while Al Wathba, near Abu Dhabi city, received 88.2mm. More wet weather is expected on Wednesday, with “intermittent rain in scattered areas across the country", the NCM said.

By Thursday evening, however, heavy rain is forecast to build in Abu Dhabi emirate before spreading nationwide.

An NCM forecaster told The National rain is set to begin in the west before moving across the country overnight until the morning. “The patterns can change,” the forecaster said. “But there will be heavy rain at times and strong winds."

The full impact of the system remains uncertain, but high winds, thunderstorms and localised flooding are possible, with some international forecasters not ruling out a rare tornado in the region.

Jason Nicholls, lead international forecaster for AccuWeather, told The National that rain and thunderstorms will continue from eastern Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and UAE into eastern Oman until Friday.

“A strong area of low pressure aloft will enhance the coverage of the precipitation Thursday into Friday with a good chance for hail, damaging wind gusts, isolated tornadoes and areas of flash flooding,” he said.

Mr Nicholls said there was a reported tornado along the coast of Saudi Arabia near Bahrain on Monday and that “the ingredients for a tornado will remain in place”.