It’s baking hot, day and night

As Ramadan sets in, so too are the year’s highest temperatures, with the mercury soaring to higher than usual at this point of the year.

The highest temperature on Tuesday was 50.2 degrees Celsius in the country’s mid-north, Saih Alsalen, while Monday reached a sweltering high of 50.9 degree Celsius in the country’s far south town of Umm Alzmul.

“There’s some kind of easterly trough which is bringing low pressure... which is heating the surface, bringing a south-easterly flow over the surface...bringing in a lot of heat from the empty quarters,” he said.

The highest temperature ever reached in the country was 52.1 degree Celsius in July 2002 in Al Jazeera in the west of the country. Contrary to the common belief August had the highest temperatures of the year, that was just a result of high humidity which made the air feel a lot hotter, he said.

“July usually records the maximum temperatures of the year.”

But the temperatures already reached were higher than the average maximum daily temperature for the month, which was unusual as the hottest days usually came at the end of the month — indicating the average maximum temperature this July may be hotter than usual.

The spokesman said the high temperatures would continue over the first few days of Ramadan, though there would be cloud cover in certain parts of the country such as Fujairah, Al Ain city and the mountainous regions. There would also be moderate winds and high humidity at night and early mornings, while temperatures would reach around 44 to 49 degree Celsius in interior regions, and between 35 and 42 degree Celsius along the coast.

While this would be one of the hotter Ramadan observed, next year would probably be even hotter as it would cover the whole month of July, he said.

He also issued a warning to people to avoid direct sun exposure during the hottest part of the day, from about midday to 4pm.