Unstable weather with light showers predicted in the UAE

Al Ain/Fujairah/Ras Al Khaimah: Meteorologists have predicted unstable weather all over the UAE, with rain expected in some areas of the northern and eastern emirates over the next 48 hours.

Brief showers have fallen on a number of areas along the East Coast, including Fujairah city and Dibba.

Overcast skies and light winds signalled a change of weather conditions yesterday morning, but the anticipated rain was limited to a few minutes of drizzles later in the afternoon.

Heavy rain and hail on Saturday in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) caused a major fire at Ghaleelah Basic School. Officials at the school and senior police officers at the Department of Civil Defence said the school's main power socket exploded due to a short circuit. The rainwater flooded a number of houses mainly in Al Shaams.

People in RAK and Umm Al Quwain also experienced slight showers late on Friday. Umm Al Quwain also received light rain yesterday. A light drizzle was also noticed in Al Ain on Saturday night.

A senior meteorologist at the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) in Abu Dhabi said unstable weather is expected to hit the UAE.

This year, said the weatherman, December was mostly dry and this month too is going to be dry."Our reading says it would rain in most parts of the country, particularly in northern and eastern emirates in the next 48 hours," he said.

Strong winds

"We are expecting cloudy to partly cloudy conditions with rain at times over scattered area," he added.

A dip in temperature is also expected, he said, adding that the fall would be moderate in most areas. Conditions would be cold in open area with winds blowing at a speed of 10 to 16 knots. He said sea would be rough with north-westerly winds blowing at a speed of 16 to 22 knots. Strong winds are also expected to blow dust in open areas. The winds could generate waves as high as six to eight feet, reaching to 10 feet offshore.

The NCMS official said sea is not safe for small boats and other joyrides, advising people to stay away from the sea.