Foggy conditions to remain for days

Dubai: The Meteorological Office predicts foggy mornings over the weekend as the temperature drops and humidity levels climb, while a doctor advises asthmatics and those with respiratory problems to stay indoors.

Motorists are advised to keep a safe distance from the car in front as visibility will drop because of the heavy mist.

"October is usually a transition period," said a Met officer. "The drop in night temperatures and very high humidity lead to early [yesterday] morning fog," he said.

Flights delayed

Visibility yesterday dropped to 200 metres and many flights were delayed. According to a Dubai resident whose relative was travelling from Sharjah, some flights were moderately delayed due to the weather conditions.

However, officials at Dubai International Airport said all flights were arriving and departing as scheduled.

There were reports of a raft of minor accidents in Dubai and Sharjah. At the Discovery Gardens stoplight, morning commuters saw a huge SUV and another car in an accident.

An ambulance had parked on the side and paramedics were seen treating a motorist. A few kilometres away, traffic on Shaikh Zayed Road slowed down as a police patrol car dealt with another accident. Many motorists still drive rashly even in low visibility.

Early yesterday morning the humidity shot up to 96 per cent, with a forecast of a sunny day ahead with humidity of around 62 per cent during later in the day.

It will be sunny and hot during the day over the next few days and hazy and warm in the nights. The daytime temperature will hover around 35C and the low is 25C. The wind will be slight to moderate causing blowing dust over some areas.

Dr Suresh Menon, specialist internal medicine at Jebel Ali Hospital, said asthmatics, those suffering from bronchitis and chronic sinusitis, should be careful.

Driving dos and don'ts

• The best advice for driving when there is dense fog is to delay the trip
• If that's not possible alert other drivers to your intentions well in advance
• Use low beams as high beam lights will reflect back
• Keep safe distance with car in front
• Fog makes roads damp, so braking will require greater distance
• Do not change lanes unless you have to. Turn your signal on well in advance so other cars can react in time
• Try to apply the brakes gradually so other drivers have chance to react and avoid a pile-up
• Do not use hazard lights

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