Scorching desert winds keep temperatures high

Al Ain/Dubai: Forecasters have said we are in for a few more days of super-hot weather thanks to scorching desert winds.

But although the mercury may soar to sizzling heights, the air should remain fairly dry and therefore conditions outside will be reasonably bearable given the time of year.

"We expect more hot days to come and temperatures could go as high as 48C in some parts of the country, accompanied by dusty winds," said a forecaster at the UAE Meteorological Department in Abu Dhabi.

Dr S.K. Gupta, duty forecaster at Dubai International Airport, said temperatures in Dubai could reach 46C over the coming days.

Yesterday the maximum temperature recorded at the airport was 44.3C and the minimum was 32.7C. Today a maximum of 45C and a minimum of 33C are predicted.

"Over the next three to four days maximum temperatures will be between 43C and 46C. It is because of the southerly winds," Dr Gupta added.

Dr Gupta said the desert winds from the south delay the onset of the cooling sea breeze in Dubai, pushing up temperatures but also keeping a lid on humidity.

By contrast, when winds are from the north-west, conditions are slightly cooler but more humid and therefore more uncomfortable.

"If the sea breeze is delayed by just one hour, then the maximum temperature shoots up by two or three degrees," Dr Gupta said.

"We are not expecting humid conditions for the next four days. Even with the very high temperatures, the comfort index will be quite low."

Yesterday, in Dubai the meteorologists' comfort index only climbed up to four, which represents "uncomfortable" conditions.

The index, which is measured on a 10-point scale, combines data such as temperature and humidity to work out how pleasant or unpleasant conditions outside are.

A score of four is reasonably low for the height of summer and it was the result of humidity being low, itself due to the fact that the winds came from the desert.

In the past in the city, the index has climbed right up to 10, which represents conditions of "extreme stress."