Dry February worries UAE farmers

Al Ain A dry winter and marked shortfall in rains in the UAE's otherwise wettest month of February has worried farmers and environmentalists and some attribute it to climate change.

The country has witnessed strange weather over the last two months with sandstorms, hot and cold spells, snowfall over the mountains, light rain and drizzle in the north, and gusty winds. But it has not had sufficient rain. The chances of good rain are remote, according to weather experts.

"Yes it is a very, very dry winter. And it seems February is not able to live up to expectations given that it is on average the wettest month," said Ahmad Sajwani, an Emirati weather blogger. He said the region has been suffering from a dry MJO (the Madden-Julian Oscillation). MJO is a term used for a major fluctuation in tropical weather.

Sajwani said: "One thing we all know: You can't control the weather. Let it just take whatever course of events it wants to. No matter what, you are getting one day closer to the next scheduled rain event," he added.

Adil Hassan, a meteorologist in Al Ain, said the country has passed through an eventful meteorological phase over the last two months. "It was, however, the driest spell and the shortage of rain is being felt all over the country."

He said lots of activity had been taking place over the Mediterranean Sea.

"Conditions were unstable there and were extending their influence over the Levant countries, the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Forecasters have been examining different weather models to see traces of rainfall in the country. We have seen nothing significant yet, fearing similar dry conditions next month," Hassan said.

Groundwater level

Mohammad Salam Al Shamsi, an Emirati farmer, said this has to be one of the driest winters. For the last two years, winters have passed without enough rain, he said. The groundwater level has dropped and several wells have gone dry in his farm, he said.

Abdul Aziz Ahmad, an Egyptian expatriate in Al Ain, also described the season as the driest in many years. The shortage of rain, he said, has been causing problems such as a drop in groundwater levels, dusty conditions and air pollution, along with health problems.

"We must hold special prayer congregations all over the country requesting Allah to bless us with a sufficient amount of rain," he said. The UAE is a part of the hot and arid peninsula that has its own long-standing issues of water scarcity, environmental pollution and desertification. The shortage of rainfall will further compound the difficulties.