Dust storms engulf most of UAE; some areas witness rain
ABU DHABI: Dust storms engulfed most areas of the country on Wednesday evening, affecting visibility on the roads. This was stated by the National Centre of Meteorology ( NCM), which also advised motorists to exercise caution while driving during inclement weather conditions.
It also stated that there was rainfall in various parts of the country on Monday owing to an extension of a surface low pressure, accompanied by an extension of an upper air low pressure coming from the northwest.
The (NCM) further explained that it had carried out 10 cloud seeding operations, during the past three days, covering most areas of the country.
The clouds towered over the northern and eastern parts of the country accompanied by light to medium and heavy rainfall with hailstones, the NCM added.
“This weather is expected to remain until Thursday, due to the continued impact of those depressions on the country,” the NCM said.
Light rain began to fall on Mushrif, Khaldiya, Bahia, Hudayriat Island, Saadiyat Island, and other areas in Abu Dhabi. It was light to moderate in Al Farfar in Fujairah, on Sheikha Salama Bint Buti Road / East of Madinat Zayed in Al Dhafra region, Khor Fakkan, and Manama in Ajman. Heavy hailstones hit Al Halah and Dibba in Fujairah.
The rain caused surface run-offs in the mountainous areas, including Wadi Tuwayyn, Wadi Al Fadi and Dibba in Fujairah.
The NCM appealed to individuals to take precautions while driving during rainfall or if visibility was poor due to dusty winds. It also advised the public to stay away from places where there are surface runoffs.
Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah recorded the lowest temperature ever in the country on Wednesday at 20.8ºc at 05.15am.
The NCM also stated that the weather on Thursday could be partly cloudy to cloudy at times, accompanied by some convective clouds over some areas, associated with rainfall and a decrease in temperature. Moderate to fresh westerly to northwesterly and northeasterly winds were likely, strengthening at times with cloud activity, blowing dust and sand. They could cause hazy conditions, blowing at a speed of 15–25 reaching 45km/hr. The waves could be moderate, becoming rough at times in the Arabian Gulf and in the Oman Sea.
The weather on Friday might be fair to partly cloudy at times with a chance of cloud formation. It could be convective during the day over some eastern and northern areas. Light to moderate westerly to northwesterly winds were possible, blowing dust in between, with a speed of 15–25 reaching 40km/hr. The waves might be slight to moderate in the Arabian Gulf and in the Oman Sea.