Rain brings mercury down in many areas of UAE

Emaduddin Khalil, Staff Reporter

Rains of varying intensity fell on separate areas across the UAE on Friday as a result of the country being affected by a surface depression from the southeast, accompanied by moist southeastern and northeastern winds and a cold air mass.

Light rains began to fall at 12:30pm on Emirates Road leading to Ras Al Khaimah, on Dibba Al Hisn in Sharjah and on separate areas in Fujairah and Al Ain City and Abu Dhabi, while light to moderate rains fell on Muzairah in Ajman and Khatm Al Milaha in Sharjah.

The lowest temperature of 10˚C was recorded in Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah at midnight and 7am on Friday, while the highest temperature of 31.6˚C was recorded on the same day in Kalba in Sharjah at 11am UAE local time.

The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) called on motorists to take caution while driving vehicles as horizontal visibility will be low due to the rains and dust-stirring winds. It also advised people to stay away from flooded valleys.

Meanwhile, the Abu Dhabi Police called on motorists to be cautious due to the rainy weather conditions and to abide by the speed limits as shown on the electronic guiding signs.

According to the NCM, Saturday’s weather is expected to be partly cloudy to cloudy at times with a chance for some cumulus clouds to form, accompanied by rainfall on some coastal and northeastern areas and a further drop in temperature.

Light to moderate northwesterly winds will blow, turning to active at times, especially offshore, and to sand-stirring during the day at 15 to 25 and up to 45 kilometres/hour, while the sea will be rough and will have moderate waves in the Arabian Gulf and regular waves in the Sea of Oman, it said.

Sunday’s weather will be partly cloudy to cloudy at times with a chance for some cumulus clouds to form, accompanied by rainfall on some coastal and northeastern areas.

Light to moderate northwesterly winds will blow, turning to active and sand-stirring, while the sea will have moderate waves in the Arabian Gulf and regular waves in the Sea of Oman.

Monday’s and Tuesday’s weather is expected to be partly cloudy in general and cloudy at times with a chance for rains on some coastal and eastern areas. Light to moderate northeasterly winds will blow, turning to active at times at 10 to 20 and up to 35 kilometres/hour, while the sea will have moderate to regular waves in the Arabian Gulf and regular waves in the Sea of Oman.