Rainy days ahead: UAE braces for midweek showers

Residents have been urged to prepare for cloudy skies and scattered rain this week, as many parts of the United Arab Emirates are set to experience wet weather starting Wednesday night.

The National Center of Meteorology (NCM) disclosed in a recent weather alert forecasting rainfall in several regions.

Rain is expected to begin late Wednesday in parts of Abu Dhabi, with showers possibly spreading to Dubai, Sharjah, and other coastal areas by Thursday morning. The weather system is anticipated to then shift toward northern regions, including Ras Al Khaimah.

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“Clouds amount increase gradually from late night Wednesday over Western areas and move toward coasts and islands, and over some Northern and Eastern areas with a chance of rainfall on Thursday,” the NCM noted in its alert.

Residents are advised to stay updated on weather conditions and drive carefully during rain. With cooler temperatures already setting in, this rainy spell adds to the seasonal shift the UAE is experiencing.

“The cloud cover will decrease gradually on Friday, by noon time, with a drop in temperatures.”

According to an NCM expert, this will be caused by, “the influence of an extension of surface low pressure, from the east over the country, coinciding with upper air low pressure associated with a relatively cold air mass and upper air jet stream from the West, which causes the development of clouds over scattered areas of the country.”

“The wind direction will be Northeasterly becoming Northwesterly or Southeasterly, at times. These winds will be strong especially over the sea, causing blowing dust and sand over land reducing horizontal visibility,” the NCM warned.

Sea conditions are expected to “rough to very rough” on Thursday and Friday in the Arabian Gulf and moderate to rough in Oman Sea.