UAE | Environment
Dusty conditions in UAE to continue for next 48 hours
Conditions may last for two more days, said meteorologists, advising people with sensitive nasal passages and breathing problems to take necessary protection.
- By Aftab Kazmi, Bureau Chief
- Published: 22:54 July 5, 2009
- Women walking at Al Safa area take cover from the sun during the hazy weather in Dubai on Sunday.
- Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News
Al Ain: A layer of fine dust on Sunday blanketed most of the UAE, reducing visibility to 1,000 metres along with increased humidity in some areas.
The widespread dust has also swamped the entire upper part of the Arabian Gulf, reducing visibility and creating breathing problems for people.
Conditions may last for two more days, said meteorologists, advising people with sensitive nasal passages and breathing problems to take necessary protection.
The dust has been coming from deserts in Iraq and Iran with Shamal winds that are continuously weakening.
Sand and dust storms in Iraq had actually laden the winds with the dust that is now pushing across the Gulf, said Dr S.K. Gupta, a senior forecaster at the Dubai Meteorology Department.
He said conditions are very dusty in some areas and will take at least 48 hours to clear up.
"This dust is coming in patches with an occasional improvement in visibility," he said, adding that there will be no problems for air traffic.
Visibility was yesterday reduced to 1,000 to 3,000 metres in Dubai and other areas.
Al Ain, which remained the hottest city in the UAE at 46°C, has also been facing similar problems. He also warned people driving late at night or early in the morning to take care saying dust and humidity could create smog.
"Drivers must be careful at these times," said Dr Gupta.
The slow wind speed is helping dust particles remain in the air for longer.
"We are expecting south-easterly winds shortly that will help in clearing up the dust," he said.
Humidity has increased to the highest levels (80 to 90 per cent) in most areas due to the south-easterly and south-westerly winds.
A meteorologist at the National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) said the temperature is expected to get hotter with the south-easterly winds. The usual July conditions will again sweep through the UAE pushing the mercury up.
"We are expecting hazy and hot to very hot weather in the next 48 hours, with the chance of some low cloud near the mountains and eastern parts of the country in the afternoon," he said.
The sea was yesterday normal and the forecast er said it will be slightly to moderately rough with two to four-foot high waves offshore.
The maximum temperature was 46°C in Al Ain, followed by 42°C in Dubai and Ajman, 43°C in Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah 44°C in Umm Al Quwain, 45°C in Ras Al Khaimah, and 39°C in Fujairah.
On the roads cut speed, police urge
The Traffic and Patrols Department of Abu Dhabi Police has urged drivers to reduce their speed and be careful during the current climatic changes, which reduce horizontal visibility as a result of dusty wind and fog.
Police have instructed drivers to pay special attention when driving through sandstorms by reducing their speed and using headlights.
Drivers should not park under trees or near road signs and construction sites. Each motorist should ensure that their car headlights, windshield wipers, batteries, tyres and brakes are in working condition.
During adverse climatic conditions, drivers must leave a safe distance between cars and use dipped headlights, and it is not safe to overtake or continuously use hazard lights.
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