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29 March 2024

Longest day of the year: Mercury@48°C

Published
By Vicky Kapur

UAE residents should not expect any respite from the ongoing heat wave, with today's summer solstice, the longest day of the year, set to see temperatures soaring to 48°C in the country’s internal areas, according to the weatherman at the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS).

“It’s going to be a normal day in terms of weather conditions,” the weatherman told Emirates 24|7 when asked if today will be any special in that it will be the longest day of the year. That said, he added that “temperatures in the country’s internal areas may go up to 47°C or even 48°C, depending on the harshness of the sun.”

June 20, is summer solstice, or the day of the year with the most daylight. It’s the first day of the astronomical Northern Hemisphere summer, the day of the year when the sun is farthest north. Humidity is expected to peak at a very sweaty 95 per cent in coastal areas.

“Coastal regions of the country will see temperatures rise to between 43°C and 45°C,” the weatherman confirmed to this website.

The UAE is already experiencing a harsh summer, with last month being one of the hottest May in more than a decade. With June temperatures already inching towards the dreaded 50°C mark, experts are warning that we could see some rather uncomfortable months ahead.

The mid-day ban for UAE workers kicked in on June 15, which bans outdoor work between 12:30pm and 3pm for three months, until September 15.

Adding to the heat tomorrow will be the towering clouds, according to an NCMS forecast, and moderate winds, which could freshen at times, “causing some blowing dust over some areas.”

With the month of June already seeing mercury in late 40s, there is every chance that the harshest summer months of July and August will see temperatures going beyond 50°C.