High winds reduce visibility in UAE

Dubai: The winds came blowing in at nearly 65 km per hour on Friday, reducing visibility to about 200 metres and buffeting small cars on the highways.

The gale force winds blew away temporary signs and workers were seen hastily propping up traffic cones lying on the roads at construction sites.

Motorists reported sand swirling around the highway leading to Abu Dhabi, reducing visibility considerably. "It's pretty bad here," said a motorist speaking on his cell phone to Gulf News while driving to Al Ain.

Dubai's skyline disappeared in the sandy haze and very few people were seen buying tickets to enter Safa Park, a favourite picnic spot in Jumeirah. There were also very few joggers around the park.

Doctors said the dust in the air aggravated conditions of those who suffer from allergies.

The high winds also gave a tough time to golfers on the Majlis Course battling for the $2.5-million purse for the Dubai Desert Classic.

The met office had earlier put out a marine warning and advised against sailing in the stormy seas.

High pressure system

"Fujairah recorded a few spots of rain in early morning, but nothing significant," said Dr S.K. Gupta, duty forecaster at the Dubai meteorological office. Offshore, the 84km/h winds whipped up nearly 6.1-metre waves.

Dubai residents also said they felt a light drizzle.

In Ajman, the beach barriers were damaged by the huge waves churned up by gale-force winds which flooded the corniche road and beach areas in the emirate.

The bad weather was caused by a high pressure system coming in from the east coast of Saudi Arabia. The winds brought the temperature down to a maximum of 20.6 degrees Celsius. But nights are expected to be cooler at around 13 degrees Celsius.

By late evening on Friday, the weather started clearing up on the East Coast and Al Ain and in Oman.

"The dust haze will settle down tomorrow [Saturday]," said the forecaster.