Al Ain: A layer of fine dust covered most parts of the UAE on Monday, reducing visibility to 1,000 metres in some areas.
People with breathing problems have been advised to take precautions. The conditions forced motorists to be extra careful on highways. The sea is also rough and many beaches have red warning flags flying.
Forecasters said the dust is widespread across the Arabian Gulf, particularly affecting eastern Saudi Arabia, western and coastal areas of the UAE and some parts of Oman. People in Dubai, Sharjah and other coastal areas were seen covering their faces. The conditions may last a couple of days, said the forecasters.
The National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) said the weather will be hazy and partly cloudy in some areas for a couple of days. The wind will at first be light to moderately rough but could gain speed at times, kicking up dust and sand in open inland areas.
The humidity is likely to increase during the night and early morning with a chance of fog, especially in the western emirates, according to the NCMS.
The weather was partly cloudy in the eastern emirates with some clouds by noon time. Forecasters said the early monsoon had been extending its influence in the region. A tropical depression has developed in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Muscat. It is far away and expected to clear without reaching the coast. The depression has, however, made the sea rough sending clouds to the eastern Arabian Peninsula.
The system has also caused rain in Oman. Some 29.4mm of rainfall was recorded in the Jebel Shams area in the past 24 hours.
Forecasters said June is to be one of the hottest months of the year. Summer officially starts from June 22, also the longest day of the year. During this month, the average air temperature averages at 33.4C to 45.5C. Average humidity remains 48 per cent. On Monday the maximum temperature was 45C which fell to 27C at night.