UAE | Environment
Fast rate of construction and increasing vehicles add to heat in UAE
It is going to be very unpleasant over the weekend with humidity levels pushing 60 per cent, but wait till August when it will get even worse, warns the Dubai met office.
- By Mahmood Saberi, Senior Reporter
- Published: 14:58 July 16, 2008
- Dubai's futy forecaster said the fast rate of construction and the growing number of vehicles on the roads are adding to the heat.
- Image Credit: Gulf News archive
Dubai: It is going to be very unpleasant over the weekend with humidity levels pushing 60 per cent, but wait till August when it will get even worse, warns the Dubai met office.
Al Minhad Air Base recorded 50 degrees Celsius on Wednesday with Dubai recording the lowest temperature in the emirates at 44 degrees Celsius, according to Dr S.K. Gupta, duty forecaster.
Jebel Ali, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi were all hotter with the mercury pushing at 45 degrees Celsius. "The heat is nothing unusual for this time of the year," the forecaster said. But he said the fast rate of construction and the growing number of vehicles on the roads are adding to the heat.
"Concrete absorbs heat and retains it and emissions from the vehicles, which are increasing by 20 per cent every month, are other factors," he said.
"There is also very little greenery or vegetation," he said. Over a million cars are on the roads every day in Dubai.
So far the highest temperature recorded in July in Dubai was 47.2 degrees Celsius. In Sharjah, it was 49.5 degrees Celsius.
On Thursday there will be thunder activity in the mountain ranges in the east. There is no chance of rain in Fujairah despite the slight drizzles in Salalah in Oman.
The Comfort Index is varying between five and six which is "very unpleasant". There will be a respite on Sunday when weak north-westerly winds start blowing. It will bring down the temperature to a bearable 41 degrees Celsius.
The weather bureau daily reports the comfort index advising people to avoid getting sunstroke. The index is graded from 'comfortable' to 'high stress'. The higher the humidity, the higher the stress level.
Share this article
Related Articles
-
UAE sizzles as temperature hits 52C
Temperature shoots up to 52 degree Celsius in parts of the UAE
More from UAE Environment
More from UAE
Popular in UAE
-
Your pictures
Readers' pictures
A Selection of the best Gulf News reader pictures this week
Latest news
- Kuwaiti Emir invites Khalifa to Arab summit
- UAE Haj pilgrims safe and well: official
- Briton loses libel case against newspaper
- Masafi Village to get first sewage treatment plant
- Activities lined up for Eid holidays in Dubai parks
- Doctors urge residents to observe safety first
- Parking, Metro, telecom offers during holidays
- Malaysian woman jailed for forging cards
- Schools mark National Day with shows
- Database launched to help combat infectious diseases
- Munching on a health hazard
- National day celebrations held in Dubai
- Wise spenders shop way ahead of festivities
- Wag a tail
- SAT wiz: Top of the class
Community Reports
-
Munching on a health hazard
Residents must be careful about consuming snacks and sandwiches prepared along the roadside as they attract dirt and bacteria
-
Faded signage fails to guide visitors
Reader seeks better upkeep of signboards in green areas
-
Noise pollution must be regulated
Residents are finding it difficult to sleep well at night owing to ongoing construction work
-
Protect our children's health
Dust and dirt from a nearby road are causing problems to those frequenting Al Nasseriya park, Sharjah.
