Sharjah readies contingency steps over weather depression
SHARJAH: During its virtual meeting, on Friday, the Executive Committee of the Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Team in Sharjah reviewed its preparations to contain the expected depression in Sharjah and its affiliated cities.
The meeting was attended by Brigadier General Ahmed Haji Al Sarkal, Director General of Police Operations, several officers, strategic partners, and representatives of federal and local authorities in Sharjah, according to WAM.
The meeting discussed the readiness of teams to maintain security during the period in which the country will be affected by the depression.
The committee directed the public to exercise caution and follow the instructions that guarantee their safety and the safety of others.
Several preventive measures that will be taken during the coming period to limit the repercussions of unstable weather conditions were pointed out during the meeting.
Rain of varying degrees of intensity fell on separate areas across the UAE on Friday as a result of the unstable weather conditions due to end on Saturday. Light rain started to fall at midnight on separate areas of Abu Dhabi
Island, Musaffah, Sas Al Nakhl, Yas Island, Al Shamkha, Abu Dhabi International Airport, Al Bateen Airport and separate areas in Abu Dhabi and on Sweihan-nahel Road in Al Ain.
Meanwhile, heavy rain fell on Ras Musheireb and Makaseb in Al Dhafra Region, Dubai International Airport, Sharjah International Airport and separate areas in Ras Al Khaimah and across the UAE. The lowest temperature of 8.6ÚC was recorded on Friday at Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah at 6.30am UAE local time.
The temperature was 10.3ÚC in Jebel Al Mebrah, 13.5ÚC in Jebel Hafeet, 13.6ÚC in Rakna in Al Ain City and 14.1ÚC in Jebel Al Haban. The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) called on motorists to be careful while driving due to the low horizontal visibility caused by the rainfall and dust-stirring winds and to stay away from large puddles and flooded valleys, while the Abu Dhabi Police called on drivers to be cautious due to the rainy weather conditions and to abide by the speed limit as shown on the traffic signs.
According to the NCM, Saturday’s weather is expected to be partly cloudy to cloudy with rain of varying degrees of intensity falling on separate areas across the country, especially on the coastal, northern and eastern areas. Moderate to active northeasterly to northwesterly winds will blow, turning to strong at times at 20 to 30 and up to 55 km/h, while the waves may be moderate which may turn rough at times in the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, it added.
Sunday’s weather will be partly cloudy in general and cloudy at times on some coastal and northern areas with a chance of rainfall during the day but will be humid at night and on Monday morning on coastal and inland areas, the NCM said. Light to moderate northwesterly winds will blow, turning to active at times at 15 to 25 and up to 40 km/h, while the waves may oscillate between being rough and moderate in the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, it added.
Monday’s weather is expected to be partly cloudy in general and humid at night and on Tuesday morning there could be a chance of light fog in some inland areas. Light to moderate northwesterly to northeasterly winds will blow, turning to active at times and the waves will be moderate in the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, it said. Tuesday’s weather will be partly cloudy in general, turning to cloudy on some northern and eastern areas at night with a chance of rain on Wednesday morning, it added.
Light to moderate southeasterly to southwesterly winds will blow, turning at times to active northwesterly winds at night, while the waves may be moderate turning rough at night in the Arabian Gulf, it said, noting that they will be normal in the Sea of Oman.
The UAE is shoring up innovative ideas and technologies in rain enhancement science, the programme has achieved several remarkable milestones over the past few years. The solutions are very pertinent and combat the risk of water scarcity. Such efforts articulate the progressive vision of the UAE’S wise leadership. The technological innovation can only help in the quest for water sustainability through implementing scientifically-viable solutions.
And this is where research in rain enhancement comes in.
Researchers are constantly on the lookout for such mood-enhancing plans. The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) is set to host a special ceremony on Thursday, 13th January, 2022 at Expo 2020 Dubai, under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, to announce the winners of the fourth cycle grant of the UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science.