Thick fog causes transport problems in Abu Dhabi

Al Ain: Thick fog blanketed Abu Dhabi and surrounding areas on Monday during the early morning rush hour, reducing visibility to almost zero in some places.

Poor visibility forced traffic to crawl as motorists were unable to see more than a car length ahead. Conditions were at their worst during the morning rush hour.

A weatherman at the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) said visibility was down to just 100 metres at Abu Dhabi airport, even at 9.30 am. No accidents were reported.

The fog also created problems in flight operations at the capital city's airport. An Abu Dhabi International Airport official acknowledged the difficulty, saying a report was being compiled on flight delays.

Safety issues

The weatherman said low wind speed, humidity, and low temperatures at night had generated the fog, but it was only in and around Abu Dhabi. "Fog had covered everything, even children waiting for their school buses on footpaths were barely visible," said Batool Zahra, an expatriate housewife in Abu Dhabi.

She said her husband normally drops her children off at school but yesterday he asked her to take them by taxi. She said he wanted to avoid driving in the foggy conditions and also went by taxi to his office.

A traffic police official said foggy conditions demanded extra care and reduced speed from motorists. Low beam lights or fog lights should be kept on as they increase vehicle visibility.

The weather yesterday was clear and the day gradually became hotter reaching 26C in Abu Dhabi and 29C in Al Ain. Conditions were clear in Dubai, Al Ain, and other cities with no reports of fog.

According to the NCMS, temperatures will gradually rise all over the UAE reaching normal levels for February. Fair weather is expected in the next 48 hours with the possibility of cloud in some areas.

Weathermen also expect winds to blow up dust over open areas. Temperatures are also expected to fall at night especially in mountainous areas.

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