UAE weather alert: Rain, thunderstorms and hail forecast for weekend

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UAE residents, after enjoying a pleasant week of cool temperatures and breezy conditions, should brace themselves for a change in weather, as heavy rain and lightning are forecasted for the upcoming week, as per the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).

Changing weather pattern

Starting Sunday and extending until Tuesday (February 11 to 13 ), the atmosphere will witness a gradual deepening of upper air depression, leading to increased cloud cover across many areas.

These clouds are expected to trigger convective cloud activity, resulting in varying intensity rainfall, lightning, thunder, and possibly hail in certain regions, according to the NCM.

الحالة الجوية على الدولة من الأحد 11 إلى الثلاثاء 13 فبراير 2024 #المركز_الوطني_للأرصاد #حالة_الطقس #الإمارات

The weather situation in the country from Sunday 11 to Tuesday, February 13, 2024. #National_Center_of_Meteorology #Weather_Condition #UAE pic.twitter.com/LyppX1GDko

— المركز الوطني للأرصاد (@ncmuae) February 7, 2024

In addition to the precipitation, temperatures are anticipated to drop, accompanied by a shift in wind patterns from southeasterly to northeasterly.

Wind speeds may range from fresh to strong, particularly when clouds are present, possibly causing blowing dust and sand, reaching speeds of 15 – 25 reaching 45 kilometres per hour.

#فيديو | #شرطة_أبوظبي تدعو السائقين للالتزام بالقيادة الآمنة وعدم الانشغال بغير الطريق في الأحوال الجوية

التفاصيل :https://t.co/8mibBiLOl4#التوعية_المرورية_الرقمية pic.twitter.com/MQ8hUGqg4e

— شرطة أبوظبي (@ADPoliceHQ) January 31, 2024

Rough sea

Sea conditions are predicted to be rough to very rough in the Arabian Gulf and rough in the Oman Sea, particularly during cloudy periods.

These weather disturbances are attributed to a surface low-pressure system in the Southwest, coupled with humid southeasterly winds. Furthermore, an upper air depression with a cold air mass and a westerly trough will contribute to varying cloud cover from the west.

Notably, UAE recorded its lowest temperature on Sunday (February 4), dropping to near-freezing at 3.4 degrees C in Jebel Jais Mountains. This follows a chilly 4.2 degrees C recorded at 5 am on Saturday morning (February 3) in Ras Al Khaimah.