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19 March 2024

Unstable weather to continue: Rain, dust storm, drop in temperatures

Published
By Bindu Rai

UPDATE: NCMS confirms the continuity of warning of fresh to strong winds and rough to very rough sea in the Arabian Gulf and rough in Oman Sea.

Brace yourself for more unstable weather to roll in stormy climes across the UAE, with rain, thunderstorms and dust to grip the country until Saturday.

The UAE’s National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) has also said ‎some parts of the country will experience a sudden drop in temperatures, measuring up to eight degrees Celsius, even as strong winds kick up dust and sand across other parts of the emirates.

The unstable weather will last four days, with a marine warning also in place, with very rough seas throwing up wave heights of 10 feet.

“The UAE will be affected by a low pressure system over the next few days, which will bring unstable weather to most of the country and strong northwesterly winds that will raise dust and sand across open areas and limit horizontal visibility on the roads,” said an NCMS spokesperson.

The system has already started with its gradual effect bringing rain, and the occasional thunder activity, to the UAE on Tuesday.

Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah recorded different intensities of rainfall, while Umm Al Quwain experienced a brief thunderstorm.

The weather will continue in a similar pattern today, with a chance of rain over northern UAE and the islands, which will continue into Thursday.

“Fresh to strong winds will blow over land and sea, with highs of 55kmph forecasted. The northwesterly winds in the western region will bring about low visibility conditions with the blowing dust and sand, but it will also result in a significant drop in Mercury of nearly eight degrees Celsius,” said NCMS.

Before you pull out those winter jackets again, the NCMS has stressed the cooler climes will be limited to the western region, such as Madinat Zayed and Ruwais which saw temperatures reaching highs of 41 degrees earlier this week.

"Dubai, Abu Dhabi city, and Sharjah will still remain hot and dusty," the spokesperson added.

The following 48 hours will also see the Arabian Gulf and the Oman Sea with rough, to very rough, conditions, the forecaster further added.

By Thursday night, towering clouds are expected to bring in more rainfall, with the spokesperson adding: "There will be different intensities of rain along the coastal and western region, and maybe also in some northern parts of the country."

A further drop in Mercury, averaging five degrees Celsius, would cool off most of UAE by Friday.

The unstable weather will continue until Saturday, with the marine warning still in effect.

The NCMS further said this low pressure system has been sweeping across the Gulf, bringing dust storms and rain across Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.