UAE | Environment
Thick fog impedes road traffic across the country
Thick fog covered Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Ain and other coastal and interior areas Thursday morning and late on Wednesday night, reducing visibility to almost zero.
- By Aftab Kazmi Bureau Chief and Syed Bilal Shafi Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:36 December 25, 2008
- Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
- The weatherman said low wind speed, humidity, and low temperature at night generated the fog.
Al Ain/Dubai: Thick fog covered Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Ain and other coastal and interior areas Thursday morning and late on Wednesday night, reducing visibility to almost zero.
The fog forced traffic to a crawl along streets and highways as motorists were not able to see more than a car-length ahead. The conditions gradually improved during the day.
Visibility was down to just 100 metres in Abu Dhabi airport.
The weatherman said low wind speed, humidity, and low temperature at night generated the fog. It started setting in at around 11pm in Al Ain and gradually engulfed the most parts of the emirates.
"Fog had covered everything and it was extremely difficult to drive at around midnight as the road and the footpaths were barely visible," said Ajmal Khan a van driver in Al Ain. Khan said fog was patchy along the Al Ain-Dubai Road and cars were going very slowly.
A traffic police official said foggy conditions demand extra care and reduced speed. Low beam or fog lights should be kept on to increase on the roads.
The NCMS said the daytime temperature has been touching 24C to 28 C in the emirates, but it fell to 11C to 15C at night. Humidity also increased with the change in wind speed, encouraging the formation of fog with higher concentrations in coastal and interior areas.
According to the forecast for the next 48 hours, weather will be fair in general but may become partly cloudy over some of the coastal areas. It would be cold at night in the mountains and interior areas.
The centre yesterday recorded 95 per cent maximum humidity in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, 90 per cent in Dubai, and 85 per cent in Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and 65 per cent in Fujairah.
Flights
Three flights were diverted and two were cancelled at the Abu Dhabi International Airport due to poor visibility.
"No aircrafts were taking off or landing between 7:30am to 9:15am because according to our airport standards the visibility level dropped below the operational level," said a spokesman of Abu Dhabi Airport Company. "The flights were back on at 10:30 am."
According to Sharjah Civil Aviation Authority around 15 arriving flights were delayed. Airports in Dubai and Al Ain did not report any diversions, delays or cancellations.
Polic urge caution
Brigadier Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, Director of Dubai Police's Traffic Department, said accidents which take place during changing weather conditions are usually fatal and result from low visibility.
He added that the danger of fatalities is much higher if a motorist is speeding or driving recklessly.
Al Zafein called on motorists to ensure their windows, headlights and indicators are clean.
He also called on motorists to leave enough distance between their cars, not to speed and not to turn on hazard lights.
"Motorists need to allow more time to complete a trip because driving in fog takes longer time. Motorists also need to expect danger at any moment..." he said.
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