Dubai simmers due to burning winds

Yesterday was one of the hottest days on record in Dubai as burning winds blew in from the Empty Quarter and set the mercury soaring.

The strong winds whipped up sand and dust in several parts of the country but they brought little moisture so conditions outside were bearable.

Forecasters have predicted a few more dry days to come before the sea breezes return and with them the high humidity August is notorious for.

At Dubai International Airport, a temperature of 47.3C was recorded by meteorologists the same peak temperature as was seen on August 1.

This is Dubai's hottest temperature since August 1999, when the mercury crept up a touch higher to 47.5C.

Humidity at the peak period yesterday was less than 10 per cent, so despite the heat the Comfort Index, which can reach 10, stood at just three, which represents "slightly uncomfortable" conditions.

More commonly at this time of year winds come from the north-west and are laden with moisture picked up over the sea.

Visibility fell to as low as 1,500 metres in Dubai, although in Abu Dhabi it remained clear and did not fall below several kilometres.

Forecasters predict hot, hazy and dusty conditions across the country over the coming 36 hours, with a chance of thunderstorms in the northern and eastern parts of the country.

Today in Dubai the maximum temperature is expected to be 45C and the minimum 34C, which is high even for August.

However, with more dry winds expected from the Empty Quarter, humidity is expected to remain low and the Comfort Index is not likely to exceed three.

Dr S.K. Gupta, duty forecaster at Dubai International Airport, said conditions were likely to remain dry for much of this week.

"There will be low humidity for two to three days. As long as the winds are from the Empty Quarter it will stay dry," he said.

Once the low pressure zone over the Empty Quarter disappears, he warned, the sea breezes and high humidity will return.