By Faisal Al-Rashidi
KUWAIT, Dec 11 (KUNA) -- Kuwaitis believe that the lashing rain seen as of late heralds the arrival of a blooming spring season with roses and flowers galore, making for picturesque scenery that is uncommon in the Gulf state.
After years of scarce rainfall, Kuwait witnessed this year unprecedented levels of precipitation, creating lush greenery nationwide not seen in years, which conjures sayings deeply embedded in folklore that extol the merits of rainfall.
What makes the rainfall in Kuwait this year so remarkable is that it was preceded by heavy dust storms, Dr. Ali Al-Dosari, a researcher at Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), told KUNA in an interview on Monday.
As strange as it may sound, he said the dust storms that blanketed Kuwait during the summer carried with it the roots of a wide array of plants, including seasonal and perennial.
Similarly, Essa Bouhamad, an official at Kuwait's Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources, foreboded a "palpable" increase in greenery this spring, accompanied by intermittent rainfall.
Persistent rains caused widespread disruption in major roads across Kuwait last month, with forecasters describing the downpour as the heaviest in decades. (end) fr.nam