End of summer 2023: Sighting of the Suhail star indicates cooler days

Image credit: Al Sadeem Astronomy

As the UAE, and the rest of the northern hemisphere swelters under intense heat conditions, eyes are drifting upwards to the night sky to spot the much-awaited Suhail star.

The Suhail star is the harbinger of cooler weather, according to Arab traditions. The rising of this star in the southern sky is a celestial event tracked by astronomers across the Middle East as it marks the end of the extreme heat and heralds the approach of temperate weather conditions.

Suhail star in the night sky

The Al Sadeem Astronomy explains, “Whenever Suhail is sighted at the southern portion of the sky rising before dawn, this indicates the end of the scorching hot summer season in the Arabian Peninsula and gradual decrease in temperatures shall take place all the way towards the winter season.”

It adds, “Daytime durations get shorter which in turn make night times longer. Ancient Arabs saw that the water in their wells started to cool down the day after Suhail came out in the sky.”

The Al Sadeem Observatory also notes, “Suhail is visible in the skies of areas up to 37°18′ north latitude and much of the Southern Hemisphere skies from late August throughout the night of the winter months, until mid-April when it sets early in the evening.”

“It also signifies the beginning of the hunter season for huntsmen traveling through the desert. Despite the fact that it is not really the southern star, Suhail was also used by the ancient Arabs as a navigational tool when heading south; for instance heading the Islamic Holy City Mecca for prayer practices.”

A recent report suggests that a member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences has predicted that the Suhail star would only be visible in the last week of August.

While the rising of the Suhail star has cultural and historical significance in the region, it does not immediately lead to a drastic change in weather conditions.

Weather warning

Meanwhile, some areas of the UAE got a brief respite from the summer heat as hail pelted roads and rain lashed parts of the country on Thursday afternoon, prompting authorities to issue yellow and orange alerts for certain areas.

#أمطار_الخير#المركز_الوطني_للأرصاد
#Rain#NCM pic.twitter.com/uL9OOHT9e9

— المركز الوطني للأرصاد (@ncmuae) August 3, 2023

A downpour was recorded in Sharjah, over the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed road towards Al Madam at around 4.30pm.
Showers were also reported in the emirate’s Al Rwaidha, Al Faya and Al Bahayes areas.

#أمطار_الخير#المركز_الوطني_للأرصاد
#Rain#NCM pic.twitter.com/UJuuNRGKkP

— المركز الوطني للأرصاد (@ncmuae) August 3, 2023

The National Centre of Metereology also shared a clip of motorists driving through a downpour in the same area. The weather monitoring agency issued yellow and orange alerts for parts of Sharjah. Residents were urged to exercise caution with the advisory saying, “Hazardous weather events are expected.”