Temperatures likely to drop by end of August: Met official
This is the time (end of August) when people noticing the temperatures going down, but wonder why they’re aren’t feeling the cool.”
Dr Ahmed Habib, meteorologist, NCM
dubai — Temperatures are set to decrease in two weeks of time, however, residents may not necessarily feel the cooler weather until September, a UAE meteorologist has said.
Astronomers in the Arab region are reporting that the Suhail star, a star that marks the cooler season in the Arab world, will be spotted on August 20.
Dr Ahmed Habib, a meteorologist at the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), told Khaleej
Times that there will be a decrease in the temperature towards end of August, but, only by one or two degrees.
“The temperature will go down, but the people will not feel the cooler weather. That starts in September, when the cooler weather will actually be felt. This is the time (end of August) when people noticing the temperatures going down, but wonder why they’re aren’t feeling the cool,” Dr Habib said.
The CEO of the Dubai Astronomy Group, Hasan Al Harriri, told Khaleej Times that the Suhail star will be visible in the UAE on August 20.
He said it has been used by different groups of people over several eras as a way to mark the calendar and observe when there will be a change in weather and is a sign that summer is about to end.
“The Suhail is a star Arabs have marked as a sign of change in weather. It marks to observes changes on the ground and seasonal changes which take place throughout the year,” he said.
“The view of Suhail was easier and it was such a bright star, that it was good time to spot it when the changes in weather were taking over. For example, we are now in the beginning of August and Suhail, in our region, raises approximately in the 20th of August, morning time. So, before the sun comes up on the 20th, you can see the Suhail on the horizon.
“But Suhail also appears in other regions. In Yemen, for example, it rises around this time – in the beginning of August. In the Northern Arab regions, for example Syria, they will see it in September. There’s a difference in appearances and in the start of the Suhail calendar.
“Suhail calendar was adopted by many people in different era – for instance, Persians, Indians and many others. We have a lunar year and a solar year, using the starts to measure the seasons. The name of the calendar which we are using is Drour calendar, which starts with the view of the Suhail. The Arabs say that the appearance of Suhail means the night will become cooler. It is a clear indication that the seasons are changing from summer to autumn.”
Dr Habib said the temperatures for today and the rest of the week are likely to remain the same, with temperatures in the interior areas ranging from a 42 to 48 degrees Celsius ad humidity levels at 55 to 70 per cent.