Fog and rain for the third day in a row decrease temperature: NCM

Emadeddine Khalil, Staff Reporter

Parts of the country, for the third day in a row, witnessed rainfall of varying intensity on Monday, with fog formation along some coastal and inland areas in the country, as a result of the country being affected by weak surface pressure systems, accompanied with an extension of an upper air high pressure system.

The fog, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), began to form from about 2:30 am and lasted until 6:30 am on Bidea Da’fas and Madinat Zayed in Al Dhafra, while ground intermittent fog was monitored along Ghantoot, Kizad, Al Ajban and other areas in Abu Dhabi, and Sweihan and Al Khazna in Al Ain and separate areas in the country.

The NCM also indicated that light rain fell on Khatm Al Shakla in Al Ain at about 3 am, while it was light to medium on Malaket area in Al Ain and medium to heavy on Dubai-Al Ain Road, and a number of other areas in the country.

As for mercury recordings, the lowest temperature recorded in the country on Monday was 20.8°C in Rakna area in Al Ain city at 05:00 am, the NCM said.

The Centre also appealed to road users to exercise caution and follow traffic instructions in the area that may witness rainfall, fog formation and low horizontal visibility.

The Abu Dhabi Police also, on Monday, activated a system to down speeds to 80 km on 3 main roads in Abu Dhabi, namely: Abu Dhabi - Al Ain Road (Ramah - Al Khazna), Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Road - (Al Samih - Ghantoot), and Sweihan Road (Al Faya Bridge – Sweihan), urging drivers to slow down when their vision is impaired by the “fog” and to adhere to the speed limits shown on signs and electronic signboards on the emirate’s roads during fog formation or rainfall.

As for the weather forecast for the coming days, the NCM said that the weather on Tuesday could be fair in general and partly cloudy at times, with a chance of some cumulus clouds formation eastward and southward by afternoon.

“Humid by night and Wednesday morning with a chance of fog or mist formation over some coastal and inland areas. The winds will be light to moderate southeasterly becoming northwesterly and northeasterly winds, freshening at times causing blowing dust during daytime, with a speed of 15 – 25 reaching 40 km/hr,” the NCM added.

The sea would be slight to moderate at times in the Arabian Gulf and slight in the Oman Sea, it said.

On Wednesday, the weather is expected to be fair in general and partly cloudy at times. Temperature tend to decrease slightly, with a chance of some cumulus clouds formation eastward and southward. It may become rainy by afternoon, according to the NCM.

It also expected to be humid by night and Thursday morning with a chance of fog or mist formation over some coastal and inland areas. The winds will be light to moderate southeasterly becoming northwesterly winds, freshening at times causing blowing dust, with a speed of 15 – 25 reaching 40 km/hr. The sea will be slight to moderate at times in the Arabian Gulf and slight in the Oman Sea.

The weather on Thursday and Friday may remain fair in general and partly cloudy at times, with a chance of some rainy convective clouds formation eastward by afternoon, the NCM said.

It also added that it would be humid by night and Friday morning with a chance of fog or mist formation over some internal and coastal areas. Light to moderate southeasterly becoming northwesterly winds, freshening at times causing blowing dust during daytime, with a speed of 15 – 25 reaching 40 km/hr. The sea will be slight in the Arabian Gulf and in the Oman Sea.