Heavy rain, strong winds and rough seas are forecast for parts of the UAE on Wednesday and Thursday. The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) expects the unsettled spell to ease only gradually, with improvement not due until Sunday.
In its latest bulletin, the NCM said Wednesday would be partly cloudy to cloudy, with convective clouds bringing intermittent rainfall to scattered areas. The rain could be heavy at times in some parts of the country.
What is behind the weather
The forecasters attribute the changeable conditions to an extension of a weak surface low-pressure system, accompanied by an upper-air low-pressure system. Together, they are feeding the cloud build-up and the gusty winds.
Wednesday: rain, wind and a rough Gulf
Winds will be light to moderate, but they are expected to become fresh to strong at times and to kick up blowing dust. North-westerly gusts could reach 50km/h in coastal areas and on islands, while inland and mountain areas could see winds of up to 40km/h.
At sea, the Arabian Gulf will be rough to very rough at times. The Oman Sea should be slight to moderate for much of the day, becoming rough at times by early Thursday morning.
Temperatures will be noticeably lower than in recent weeks. Inland areas will range between 30°C and 34°C, coastal areas and islands between 27°C and 31°C, and mountain regions between 22°C and 26°C. Humidity could climb as high as 85 per cent along the coast and on islands, and 80 per cent inland and in the mountains.
Thursday: more rain, stronger winds
The NCM said unstable conditions will continue on Thursday, 12 November. Skies will again be partly cloudy to cloudy, with convective clouds bringing scattered showers that could once more turn heavy in places.
Temperatures are expected to fall slightly further. Winds will shift from south-westerly to north-westerly and could reach 55km/h at times, again causing blowing dust. The Arabian Gulf will remain rough to very rough at times, while the Oman Sea will be moderate to rough.
The outlook for Friday to Sunday
Friday is forecast to be partly cloudy, with clouds developing over eastern areas. North-westerly winds could reach 45km/h and cause blowing dust. The Arabian Gulf will be very rough to rough at times, and the Oman Sea moderate to rough.
Saturday should look much the same, with partly cloudy skies and north-westerly to south-westerly winds of up to 45km/h. Seas will stay rough in the Arabian Gulf and rough to moderate in the Oman Sea.
By Sunday, conditions are forecast to improve, with fair to partly cloudy skies. Winds will ease slightly but could still reach 40km/h, raising dust at times. The Arabian Gulf will remain rough, while the Oman Sea is expected to settle to slight.
Practical points for residents
The latest forecast follows several days of unsettled outlooks this month, so many residents will already be familiar with the pattern. Even so, a few sensible precautions apply. Heavy showers and blowing dust can reduce visibility and make roads slippery, so drivers should slow down and leave extra distance between vehicles. The combination of very rough seas and strong winds is a reason for anyone planning boating, fishing or beach activity to think twice, particularly along the Arabian Gulf coast.
Those travelling should also check for schedule changes before heading to the airport. Details on aviation disruption linked to regional security are covered separately in today’s reporting. Residents should keep an eye on NCM bulletins, which are updated as conditions develop, rather than relying on forwarded messages.
A cooler change
For many people, the drop in temperature will be a welcome shift after a long, hot season. The range of 27°C to 31°C on the coast is a clear step down from the mid-30s recorded earlier in the week, according to Gulf News forecasts published over recent days. Whether the rainfall brings real relief or just a damp interruption will depend on how the cloud develops over the next 48 hours.
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