Low visibility due to strong, dusty winds

Abdulrahman Saeed, Staff Reporter

Various parts in the country on Wednesday witnessed active to strong winds blowing at a speed of 50 km / h and suspended dust and sand, leading to poor horizontal visibility at times. The winds started at exactly 10am and lasted for 8 hours, which led to a decline in the horizontal visibility of less than 50 metres at times over the inland and coastal areas.

According to the National Centre for Meteorology (NCM) the winds were a result of an extension of a surface low pressure over the East, and a high pressure over the West, accompanied by an upper air trough of low pressure.

Abu Dhabi Police called upon drivers to exercise caution because of the low horizontal visibility, and not to be distracted by using phone or photographing while driving to ensure road users are safe.

Al Dhafra Municipality also called on the public to be cautious on the roads because the area was affected by active winds that led to low horizontal visibility.

The NCM has also indicated that the weather on Thursday was expected to be fair to partly cloudy at times especially eastward. It could be humid by night and Friday morning with a chance of fog and mist formation over some coastal and internal areas; moderate to light northwesterly to northeasterly winds, with a speed of 15–25, reaching 38km/hr.

The waves will be moderate to slight in the Arabian Gulf and in Oman Sea.

The weather on Friday could be fair to partly cloudy, with a probability of some convective clouds formation eastward by afternoon, with a gradual increase in temperatures, the NCM said.

“Humid by night and Saturday morning with a chance of fog and mist formation over some coastal and internal areas. Light to moderate southeasterly to northeasterly winds, freshening at times blowing dust during daytime, with a speed of 15–25, reaching 38km/hr. The sea will be slight to moderate in the Arabian Gulf and in Oman Sea,” the NCM added.