Dubai: Authorities in Abu Dhabi issued a cautionary message to motorists on Wednesday as a dust storm is expected to blow over the emirates until midnight and again on Thursday morning.
The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) alerted residents on Twitter over thick dust clouds that reduced visibility to less than 1,300 metres in Abu Dhabi.
— المركز الوطني للأرصاد (@NCMS_media) February 14, 2018
Abu Dhabi Police alerted drivers to pay attention to the roads as road visibility dropped, and urged motorists not to be distracted with their mobile phones.
The NCM pointed out that the dust storm was caused by a low-pressure front coming in from the eastern region, while a high pressure front moved in from the south-eastern region.
The dust storm is expected to become milder at night but pick up again on Thursday morning.
— المركز الوطني للأرصاد (@NCMS_media) February 14, 2018
The weather on Wednesday morning became unstable in various areas of the UAE, with gales of up to 58km/h expected to blow between the cities of Al Ain and Abu Dhabi.
The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) said the weather will be partly cloudy in general and hazy at times, with moderate winds of 12-26km/h to blow across internal areas.
However, the winds will peak later in the day and reach a maximum speed of 58km/h near the city of Al Ain.
— المركز الوطني للأرصاد (@NCMS_media) February 14, 2018
— المركز الوطني للأرصاد (@NCMS_media) February 14, 2018
On its Twitter account, the UAE’s Storm Centre said that south-eastern winds will affect most of the country and raises dust and dirt in exposed areas, while high temperatures are expected to continue.
الإمارات : غدا الأربعاء متوقع نشاط واسع للرياح الجنوبية الشرقية (سهيلي) تثير الأتربة والغبار على بعض مناطق الدولة مع ارتفاع درجات الحرارة ، هذا والله أعلم #مركز_العاصفة pic.twitter.com/ja8yMIIcNe
— مركز العاصفة (@Storm_centre) February 13, 2018
Residents in the eastern coast will have some drizzle across the towns, as the NCM said that “the amount of low clouds will increase and light rain may fall,” with humidity levels expected to rise late at night and into the early morning.
الإمارات : أجواء غائمة الان على الفجيرة ومناطق الساحل الشرقي من الدولة #مركز_العاصفة pic.twitter.com/VbkJp4ov3y
— مركز العاصفة (@Storm_centre) February 14, 2018
Social media users in Fujairah were quick to post videos of the convective clouds that formed across the morning sky, with many waiting in anticipation for the rain.
The sea will be rough with 4-7ft offshore waves in the Arabian Gulf and strong at times with 3-6ft waves in the Oman Sea.
— المركز الوطني للأرصاد (@NCMS_media) February 14, 2018
The temperature, according to the NCM, will range from 14-31C in coastal areas, 12-34C in internal areas, and 10-21C in the mountain region.
