Dubai: Prepare for a gloomy, dusty, and, possibly, rainy weekend and avoid going to sea.
Forecasters warned residents to take precautions this weekend especially since weather will be unstable. Many outdoor events are scheduled on Friday and Saturday.
On Thursday, heavy rains lashed eastern parts of the country, especially Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah.
Forecasters advised residents to still bring their umbrellas as different intensities of rain may hit coastal areas in the UAE on Friday.
“Dubai will have dusty conditions on Friday morning and there is a chance of light to moderate rain as well. Ras Al Khaimah and neighbouring areas may have heavy showers in the morning and afternoon,” a forecaster from the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) told Gulf News.
According to the NCMS website, rains are forecast from Jais Mountain to Ras Al Khaimah, stretching westward along the coast towards Sharjah, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, until Al Ruwais and Sila. It will also rain heavily in Fujairah associated with lightning and thunder.
Heavy rains lashed northern parts of the UAE especially Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah in the late afternoon on Wednesday. Maximum recorded rainfall was 9.1mm in Dibba, Fujairah.
Convective cloud formations are associated with dusty conditions and may reduce visibility in land. Those who will be outdoors on Friday are advised to bring with them face masks and be cautious when driving. On Thursday, visibility in Ras Al Khaimah went down to 2,000 metres due to the dust suspended in the air.
Forecasters also warned residents of rough to very rough sea especially in the northern part of the Arabian Gulf in Ras Al Khaimah and neighbouring areas and Oman Sea due to a low pressure.
“Clouds started developing from Thursday afternoon and will continue to develop until Friday morning. This is associated with strong winds over land that would kick up dust and sand, resulting in rough to very rough seas.
The Arabian Gulf may see wave heights of 8ft to 10ft, reaching 12ft offshore, and wave heights of 3ft to 6ft onshore on Friday. The Oman Sea will be calmer with 2ft to 3ft wave height onshore and 4ft to 7ft wave height offshore.
