The National Centre of Meteorology warns of afternoon convective clouds, reduced visibility, and active winds extending into early next week.
DUBAI : Scattered summer rainfall accompanied by strong winds and blowing dust is expected across parts of the United Arab Emirates through the weekend and into early next week, as internal temperatures surge up to 48°C.
The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) issued a weather bulletin on Thursday confirming fair to partly cloudy conditions overall, with periodic formation of afternoon convective clouds bringing localized showers to eastern and western regions.
The unsettled atmospheric pattern stems from an extension of a surface low-pressure system pushing from the east, interacting with an upper-air low-pressure system over the Arabian Peninsula. This synoptic setup creates ideal thermal conditions for convective cloud formation, particularly over mountainous terrain and adjacent inland corridors during peak afternoon heating.
Maximum temperatures in internal regions are projected to oscillate between 43°C and 48°C. Coastal areas, including major urban hubs, will range from 38°C to 44°C alongside high relative humidity, while elevation brings slightly cooler daytime peaks of 30°C to 38°C to mountain districts.
Meteorologists highlighted wind activity as a primary concern for motorists and outdoor workers. Southeasterly to northeasterly breezes averaging 10 to 25 km/h are expected to freshen significantly under active cloud formations, with peak inland gusts reaching up to 45 km/h. These downdrafts could kick up localized dust and sandstorms, sharply reducing horizontal visibility across open highways and desert roadways.
Marine conditions in both the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman remain favorable, with official forecasts maintaining slight sea states throughout the multi-day period.
According to the NCM’s five-day extended outlook, convective clouds and localized precipitation will continue through Friday afternoon across eastern and southern zones. Similar atmospheric trends are set to repeat on Saturday and Sunday, with winds temporarily shifting northwesterly at speeds between 10 and 30 km/h.
By Monday, atmospheric instability is forecast to re-intensify over southern and eastern areas, bringing another wave of convective rain clouds and wind gusts reaching 40 km/h. Authorities advise drivers to exercise heightened caution on highway routes prone to sudden dust hazes and rapid visibility shifts.
