UAE | Environment
Dust envelops the UAE and reduces visibility
Gale force winds of 35 knots from the north-west have stirred up thick dust across the emirates and reduced visibility, but the temperature has dropped, according to the Dubai weather office.
- By Mahmood Saberi, Senior Reporter
- Published: 13:17 June 9, 2008
- "There will be no respite (from the dust haze) for the next 48 hours," said Dr S. K. Gupta, duty forecaster.
- Image Credit: Arshad Ali/Gulf News
Dubai: Gale force winds of 35 knots from the north-west have stirred up thick dust across the emirates and reduced visibility, but the temperature has dropped, according to the Dubai weather office.
"There will be no respite (from the dust haze) for the next 48 hours," said Dr S. K. Gupta, duty forecaster. The dust has badly hit Kuwait, Baghdad, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, where visibility has dropped to 500 meters.
While Dubai offshore is not as bad, the winds have whipped up 8 to 9 foot waves in northern Abu Dhabi, said the forecaster.
The winds have helped bring down the mercury by about two to three degrees to maximum of 34.9 degrees and minimum of 28 degrees Celsius. Humidity is 50 per cent at the moment. The Comfort Index is at 3, which is slightly comfortable, compared to 6 on June 6, which was ‘very uncomfortable'. If the comfort index reaches 9, that is ‘extreme stress' and can be expected in July and August, said Dr Gupta.
People with breathing difficulty or suffering from allergies are advised not to venture out into the dust haze if possible.
Dubai recorded 41.6 degrees Celsius on June 5, while it reached 43 degrees Celsius in Sharjah, last week. According to the Sharjah weather bureau, the highest temperature recorded in the emirate was 49.2 degrees Celsius, a couple of years ago.
Send us your pictures of the dust cloud which has enveloped the UAE and we will publish the best ones. Click here to upload your pictures.
Share this article
Popular in UAE
-
Your pictures
Readers' pictures
The best reader pictures from around the UAE this week
Latest news
- Thieves caught with Dh6 million in gold bars
- ADWEA tenders for new power, desalination plants
- Mohammad approves federal demographic body
- Criminal wanted in 360 cases arrested in Dubai
- UAE visitor admits to possessing fake notes
- Men get bail in Dubai due to lack of translator
- Security trial in UAE adjourned until December
- Colombia seeks stronger ties with UAE
- Conference on combatting crime through sports begins
- Passer-by foils Dh2.5m robbery bid in Dubai
- Brothers deny vandalising plaintiff's car
- Extended break for Eid and National Day
- Free SMS offer for paid parking in Dubai
- UAE official urges corporate support for diabetes control initiatives
- Duo develop low energy desalting process
Community Reports
-
Pavement parking irks pedestrians
Gulf News reader calls on authorities to step in and stop car owners from invading pathways meant for safe walking
-
Faded parking lines pose a problem
Motorists could be fined for parking incorrectly even though they can hardly see the boundaries in the designated areas
-
School buses block residential parking
Commercial vehicles taking up free parking facilities in Al Wuheida, inconveniencing residents in surrounding villas
-
Community report: Doing their bit for poor children
A group of students takes concrete action to raise funds for Dubai Cares
