Rain hits parts of UAE as showers expected until 9pm

Abu Dhabi: The UAE’s National Centre of Meteorology has issued an alert for convective clouds and rainfall across parts of the country on Saturday, with showers expected to range from light to moderate and become heavy at times.

The alert is in effect from 1.30pm until 9pm on Saturday, with the weather system expected to affect parts of the eastern, southern and western regions and extend into some inland areas.

The warning comes as forecasters expect another unsettled afternoon after heavy rain, thunder and lightning swept parts of Abu Dhabi on Friday.

Saturday is forecast to remain generally fair to partly cloudy, with convective clouds developing over eastern and southern areas during the afternoon and bringing further rain. Temperatures are also expected to rise gradually.

Winds will be light to moderate, strengthening at times and reaching speeds of up to 40 kilometres per hour. Conditions will become humid overnight and into Sunday morning over some coastal areas, while seas are expected to remain slight in the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.

On Sunday, conditions will remain fair to partly cloudy at times, with clouds developing over eastern areas during the afternoon. Humidity will increase overnight and into Monday morning over some coastal areas.

On Monday, clouds could again develop over the east and may become convective during the afternoon. Humid conditions are forecast overnight and on Tuesday morning along parts of the coast, with a possibility of fog or mist.

The unsettled pattern is expected to continue into Tuesday, when convective clouds could form over eastern areas and bring more afternoon rain. Winds may strengthen at times to around 40 kilometres per hour, while seas are forecast to remain slight in the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.