Low visibility on the morning commute
Thick fog settled over parts of the UAE early on Friday, cutting visibility on some roads. The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) urged drivers to take care, reduce their speed and keep checking forecasts for updates on when fog is likely to form.
The fog comes with a broader unsettled spell. The NCM expects a mix of cloud, scattered rain and gusty, dusty winds through the weekend and into Monday.
Friday: clouds build in the east
Skies are forecast to be fair to partly cloudy through the day. By the afternoon, convective clouds are likely to develop over eastern areas and could bring rain. Winds will be light to moderate, shifting from the southeast to the northwest, and may turn fresh in places where clouds develop, raising dust.
The heat has eased from the highs seen earlier in October. Temperatures are expected to reach 37°C in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, with overnight lows of around 29°C. Humidity is forecast to rise on Friday night and into Saturday morning over parts of the coast and interior, bringing another chance of fog or mist.
The weekend and Monday
On Sunday, parts of the north and east could see afternoon showers as rain-bearing clouds develop. Moist conditions are expected to continue overnight and into Monday morning, so fog or mist remains possible. Monday brings another chance of afternoon rain, mainly over eastern and southern areas, as convective clouds build again.
The NCM’s forecast notes that gusts can reach about 45 km/h in mountain areas when clouds are active. In dry, open areas those winds can lift dust and sand and cut horizontal visibility.
A wetter-than-usual October so far
This week has already brought heavy downpours in places. Rainfall was reported in parts of Sharjah, including the Mleiha area, and hail fell along the Hatta road, sending water through nearby valleys. The NCM had said convective clouds could develop over eastern, western and southern regions from 12 to 16 October.
The pattern fits the NCM’s outlook for the month. It expected October rainfall to be slightly above the long-term average of 5.2 millimetres, with temperatures above the October mean of 29.7°C. October is a transition month in the UAE. The summer heat fades and moisture from the south and east can combine with local heating to produce sudden, short-lived storms.
Staying safe
Road-safety authorities across the Gulf generally give similar advice for fog. Slow down, leave a larger gap to the car ahead, use low-beam or fog lights rather than full beams, and avoid sudden braking or lane changes. Drivers should not stop on the hard shoulder unless it is unavoidable.
In rain, wet roads that have collected a summer’s worth of dust and oil can become slippery. Wadis and valleys in the north and east can fill quickly, even when the rain has fallen some distance away, so people are advised to avoid crossing flowing water and to stay away from low-lying areas.
People with dust allergies or respiratory conditions may want to limit time outdoors when winds pick up.
What to watch
The NCM updates its forecast regularly. With convective activity repeating each afternoon and conditions humid overnight, residents should expect conditions to change quickly from hour to hour, especially in the east.
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