Dense fog blankets UAE; multiple accidents

The weather is likely to become fair to partly cloudy in general, with a slight rise in day temperatures. (Supplied)

Published Thursday, March 06, 2014

By Staff

Pic: Adeola Ibironke

Residents of the UAE woke up to foggy conditions on Thursday morning with visbility down to 100 metres or less in parts, with Dubai Airirport reporting 'moderate delays' in the flight schedule.

Pic: Vicky Kapur

A thick blanket of fog has spread over most of the country, with early morning commuters encountering dense pockets of fog in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah. According to a motorist, the visibility on Dubai's Sheikh Zayed Road after the Trade Centre Roundabout was poor, with visibility not more than 200-250 metres around 7.30am.

Pic: Bindu Rai

The official weather forecaster, the National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS), confirmed that the fog descended in the early hours of Thursday, with parts of Liwa and Dafrah regions being the worst hit, along with Khalifa City, the Dubai-Abu Dhabi highway and the area surrounding Al Maktoum Airport, namely Jebel Ali.

When quizzed on flight delays, a spokesperson from Dubai Airport also stated: “Yes, there are moderate delays.”

A detailed schedule is expected shortly, with passengers advised to check their flights before departing for the airport.

Traffic slow moving in Discovery Gardens due to the fog at 8am. Twitter pic by Sohail Anjum.

Multiple accidents

The Dubai Police and the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) cautioned motorists to drive carefully as visibility is suddenly reduced in such conditions, even as multiple accidents were reported across Dubai and Sharjah, adding to the morning chaos.

Pic: Bindu Rai

Dubai Police tweeted about one such incident, saying: “Accident between several vehicles on the Dubai-Al Ain Road, before Merghem Bridge, towards Al Ain. Please drive with caution.”

Traffic Dubai tweeted: “Multuple accidents Sharjah Southbound, on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. Between Amman Street and Baghdad Street, Traffic incgestion and delays.”

Another accident has also been reported on Hessa Street near Saudi German Hospital.

Meanwhile, those travelling on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Al Ain Road reported dense fog in the area in the morning. Residents of Silicon Oasis also said that visibility was extremely poor due to foggy conditions.

NCMS predicts fair to partial cloudy conditions on Thursday. Scattered low clouds are likely to appear over eastern mountainous areas by afternoon.