Dubai: UAE residents and visitors are being warned to watch out for strong swells and marine hazards if they hit the beach today, Thursday.
The National Centre for Meteorology (NCM) has raised a yellow alert along the coast of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain, as offshore waves are forecast to reach up to six feet high from today through Friday, 8am.
The weather bureau said fresh easterly to northeasterly winds will be blowing in at 40 kilometres per hour at times, stirring up waves in the Arabian Gulf. Swimmers, as well as boatmen and jet skiers, should therefore take precautions if they plan to wade out into the water
“Be on the lookout if you go in for outdoor activities,” a warning issued by NCM reads.
Authorities said there has been a significant drop in the number of people who drowned or got injured in Dubai’s beaches this year.
As of July this year, at least six beachgoers died while three others were injured, compared to 14 deaths and four injuries a year earlier and 29 deaths and six injuries in 2016.
Also today, temperatures dipped to as low as 14.9 degrees Celsius at 5:30am today in Jais Mountain and between 17.6 to 18 degrees Celsius in other mountain ranges and high altitudes.
Weather forecasters said that Thursday and Friday will see some clouds forming in certain areas, but rains will probably be on the way this Saturday.
A severe weather warning was earlier raised by Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi authorities on Sunday night, as thunder, lightning and heavy downpour lashed different parts of the country.
