Abu Dhabi reduces speed limit on 6 roads after fog envelops parts of UAE for at least nine hours

Emadeddin Khalil, Staff Reporter

On Wednesday morning, for the second consecutive day, various areas across the country witnessed fog formation and low horizontal visibility for nine hours, from midnight to 9:00 am.

The Abu Dhabi Police activated a system of reducing speeds to 80 km/h on six main roads and urged drivers to exercise caution and adhere to the posted speed limits in order to ensure the safety of all road users during periods of low visibility caused by fog formation.

This was caused by the country being affected by weak surface coverage distributions, accompanied by an air height in the upper atmosphere, as reported by the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).

Fog was observed in several locations across the UAE, including Sweihan in Al Ain, Bada Dabas in the Al Dhafra region, Al Ajban, Shawamekh, Al Falah, Riyadh City and Shakhbout in Abu Dhabi, and Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Road (Kizad - Seih Shuaib). Furthermore, precipitation witnessed in Al Shuhada Street in Ras Al Khaimah, Zayed International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai, in addition to Jebel Ali in Dubai and Nizvi, Al Badayer and Al Madam in Sharjah.

The lowest temperature recorded in the country on Wednesday was 23.3°C at Rakana in Al Ain at 05:15 am.

The speed reduction system was activated to 80 km/h on six main roads, specifically on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Road (Al Falah Bridge - Kizad Bridge), Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Road, Abu Dhabi-Dubai (Kizad Bridge - Seih Shuaib).

The speed reduction system was activated on the following roads: Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Road (Al Falah Bridge - Seih Sudaira), Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Road (Seih Shuaib Bridge - Rawdat Al Rif Bridge), Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed International Road (Hermia Bridge - Ruwais Bridge) and Abu Dhabi-Al Ain Road (Mafraq - Al Hafar).

NCM has forecast that the weather on Wednesday will be predominantly clear, with occasional partial cloud cover, and humidity at night and on Thursday morning.

There is a possibility of fog or light fog forming in some coastal and inlands. Winds will be southeasterly, becoming northeasterly and northwesterly, with speeds ranging from light to moderate, and occasionally active, reaching speeds of 10 to 25 up to 35 km/h. The sea in the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman is expected to be mild. 

Additionally, the NCM has forecasted that the weather on Thursday will be predominantly clear, with occasional partial cloud cover, particularly in the northern and eastern areas. Humidity levels are anticipated to be high overnight and on Friday morning, creating the potential for the formation of fog or light fog in coastal and inlands.

Winds are expected to be northwesterly, light to moderate in speed, occasionally active, with a speed of 10 to 20 up to 35 km/h. the sea will be light to moderate in the Arabian Gulf and light in the Sea of Oman.

The Friday’s weather is expected to be generally clear to partly cloudy, with humidity at night and on Saturday morning. There is a possibility of fog or light fog forming in some coastal and inlands. Winds are anticipated to be northwesterly to northeasterly, with speeds ranging from light to moderate, with intermittent turbulence and dust particles, reaching speeds of 10 to 25 km/h, and 40 km/h at times.

The sea is expected to be light to moderate in the Arabian Gulf and light in the Sea of Oman.

The weather on Saturday is expected to be clear to partly cloudy, with the potential for low clouds to develop along the east coast. These clouds may become cumulus, particularly over the eastern areas, during the afternoon. Additionally, precipitation is expected to occur on some coastal and inland areas on Sunday morning.

Winds are expected to be southeasterly to northeasterly, with speeds ranging from light to moderate. These winds may occasionally be active and dusty, with speeds reaching 10 to 40 km/h. The sea is expected to be light to moderate, with the potential for some disturbance in the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.

The weather on Sunday is expected to be clear to partly cloudy, with the potential for cumulus clouds to develop in the eastern and southern regions. These clouds may result in a cumulonimbus formation, accompanied by winds originating from the southeast to northeast direction. These winds are expected to be of a moderate speed, with intermittent gusts reaching speeds of 10 to 40 km/h.

Additionally, the sea is expected to exhibit light to moderate waves in the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.