After a mere sprinkling in September, this was the first real rain since April. Instead of collecting drips from the air conditioning, the buckets filled with torrents which cleansed the air and breathed colour into Beirut’s sun-fatigued, dust laden streets.

Check out the short slideshow from the downpour and aftermath.

Experts say the rain is being concentrated into shorter, heavier bursts, meaning longer, drier summers and less chance to collect the rain when it does arrive.