Rain and strong winds likely, but no chance of storm in UAE
Met officials clarify the situation is an extension of low pressure in Saudi Arabia
The UAE will continue to experience unstable weather conditions tomorrow with downpours expected over the islands, coastal and northern areas due to an extension of low pressure in Saudi Arabia. Forecasters, however, clarified no storm is coming to the UAE.
“Convective clouds coming from the west, particularly from central Saudi Arabia, are moving toward the UAE over the sea and moving toward the islands, the western part, the coastal areas of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and northern parts of the UAE,” Dr Ahmad Habib from the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), told Gulf News.
“Convective clouds are associated with rainfall and strong wind at times so the sea will be rough at times and visibility will become poor due to blown dust and rain,” he added.
Dr Habib, however, added that no “storm” is coming to the UAE as reported by a section of the local media, but the situation is just ■ an extension of the low pressure affecting the Arabian Peninsula.
“These are convective clouds [associated with rainfall], not a storm. Storm is a big word for the situation,” Dr Habib said.
When asked if the situation would worsen similar to what happened in Kuwait, Dr Habib allayed fears and answered in the negative. Heavy rains inundated major parts of Kuwait last week until the weekend, damaging roads, bridges and homes.
“The low pressure affecting the region is a big one. But the centre of this system is over the northern and eastern Saudi Arabia towards Jordan and Kuwait. But in our area, it is only an extension of the low pressure toward the east of Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The strong impact is in that area and not in the UAE,” Dr Habib said.
Heavy rains lashed Das Island and Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Road yesterday while moderate rain was recorded over Al Samha in Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Al Faya Road, and Seih Sdeera. Light to moderate rain was witnessed in Ghantoot, Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Road while Dubai and Al Maktoum Airport received scattered rain.