Hail and heavy rain have lashed parts of Fujairah. Here is what the NCM forecasts for Dubai and Abu Dhabi temperatures over the Diwali weekend.
News Today Desk
Hail and heavy rain have lashed several parts of Fujairah as the UAE's weather takes a turn, and more showers are possible in eastern and northern areas before the weekend. The good news for anyone planning Diwali celebrations is that Sunday is forecast to be dry, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).
Over the past week, the country has seen sporadic showers and occasional hail in different areas, Khaleej Times reported. Here's what to expect day by day, and what it means for your plans.
The NCM said the unsettled conditions are linked to a weak surface pressure system, along with an extension of a weak upper-air low-pressure system. Together, they are encouraging convective clouds to build up over eastern and northern areas.
Gulf News notes those areas typically include Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah's east coast, as well as the Hajar mountain areas. That explains why the Fujairah coast and the mountains tend to catch the worst of it while the big cities stay hot and hazy.
Thursday brings fair to partly cloudy skies, with a chance of convective clouds over some northern and eastern areas that could bring rain. Inland areas will reach the mid to high 30s°C, the coast the low to mid 30s, and the mountains will stay cooler, with highs from the low 20s to around 31°C.
Friday looks like the most unsettled day. Convective clouds are expected to develop over eastern and northern areas by the afternoon, bringing a chance of rain. Winds will pick up to 40km/h at times, which could cause blowing dust and reduce visibility.
Saturday eases slightly. Convective clouds are still possible over eastern areas in the afternoon and may bring showers. Winds will be light to moderate, occasionally fresh, reaching up to 35km/h. Gulf News, citing AccuWeather, expects Saturday to be the hottest day of the weekend, with highs of about 37°C in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, and around 36°C in Dubai.
| Day | Rain chance | Wind | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | Eastern and northern areas by afternoon | Up to 40km/h | Slight to moderate at times in the Arabian Gulf, slight in the Oman Sea |
| Saturday | Eastern areas in the afternoon | Up to 35km/h | Slight in both |
| Sunday | No rain forecast | Up to 35km/h | Slight in both |
By Sunday, conditions are expected to settle. The NCM forecasts fair to partly cloudy skies, with some clouds over northern and eastern areas but no rain. Winds will be light to moderate, southeasterly to northeasterly, fresh at times, at 10 to 25km/h and reaching 35km/h. Seas will be slight in the Arabian Gulf and the Oman Sea.
The two outlets give slightly different temperature figures, so here is who reported what.
| Source | Dubai | Abu Dhabi | Sharjah |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khaleej Times (NCM forecast), highs | 36°C | 35°C | 36°C |
| Khaleej Times (NCM forecast), lows | 26°C | 25°C | 24°C |
| Gulf News (AccuWeather), highs | 34°C | 36°C | 35°C |
Khaleej Times says the country's highs could reach 38°C on Sunday, and that the day should be mostly sunny in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah. Gulf News says that should make for pleasant evening conditions for Diwali gatherings. If you're hosting outdoors, the evening looks like the comfortable window.
Humidity is the other thing to watch. Emirates 24/7 reported that relative humidity was topping out at 90 per cent in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman and Sharjah, with visibility dropping to zero at times in fog. The NCM expects humidity to build overnight and into Friday morning over most coastal areas, with a high chance of mist.
Gulf News adds that humidity will stay high through the weekend, especially overnight and in the early mornings along the coast. Fujairah has been the coolest emirate on some days, with a forecast high of 32°C in the Emirates 24/7 breakdown.
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Authorities advise motorists to take care during early morning drives because of possible low visibility, and to stay alert in areas hit by rain or blowing dust. If you're heading to the east coast or the mountains on Friday or Saturday, check conditions first, as these are the areas where showers are most likely.
Residents are also urged to follow official updates from the NCM.
The pattern points to rain chances easing as the weekend goes on, with Sunday forecast dry. Temperatures stay slightly warm across the country, with inland areas feeling the warmth most and the mountains staying cooler. Keep an eye on the NCM's daily updates in case the eastern showers change timing.
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