Rain drenches UAE again, to continue today

Dubai - Rain and cloud will continue to cover parts of the UAE on Sunday

Residents across the UAE experienced cold and rainy weather on Saturday, with many welcoming the wet conditions.
"I woke up this morning to the rain but I like the cool weather," Richard Paul, an Irish resident of Khalifa city in Abu Dhabi told Khaleej Times.
Despite the wet conditions making him feel more at home, he said it sometimes limits him from going for weekend outings.
Another Abu Dhabi resident, Yusuf Sinani who resides in Mohammed bin Zayed city, said Saturday was unusually cold because of the morning rains. "I had left my jacket back home but I had to drive back to pick it up."
The 30-year-old Ugandan, working in a tyre and mechanics workshop, said the rainy weather has also affected his business. "We have received only one customer since morning as people are reluctant to move out of their homes or workplaces during bad weather," he said.
Rain and cloud will continue to cover parts of the UAE on Sunday, and the wet conditions are expected to continue through till Monday morning.
Speaking to Khaleej Times on Saturday, a forecaster at the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) said the unstable weather is "expected in the coming days with coastal, northern and island areas of the UAE" having the most likely chance of rain.
"(We will witness) moderate winds in general, as well as a freshening breeze at times over the sea, becoming light over the land. The relative humidity is likely to increase during Saturday night and Sunday over some internal areas."
Fog may also form over internal areas on Monday morning with visibility dropping to as low 1,000m between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Sweihan and Al Minhad.
He said temperatures will be between 14°C and 28°C along the coast, with 12°C to 30°C inland. In the mountains the highest temperatures will be 20°C and the lowest 9°C on Sunday and Monday.
Humidity will rise to almost 85 per cent in the evening on the coast and 95 per cent inland. The sea will be moderate to rough in the Arabian Gulf and moderate in the Sea of Oman, so forecasters have urged people to stay away from the water. The police have also warned motorists to drive carefully in the bad weather.
"I was planning to take my kids to Yas Waterworld but I have changed the plan because of the rain and cold weather," said Egyptian resident Mohammed Salem.
In Abu Dhabi, moderate to heavy rain was reported over some areas of the Island on Saturday.
In general the skies remained partly cloudy across the UAE, with some rainfall over islands, coastal and northern areas.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com
Dubai hit by most powerful storm in decades
The Dubai coasts were lashed by the most powerful wind in the region, known as Shamal storm, in early February, recording the highest waves since decades.
Aliaa AbdulRaheem Al Harmoodi, Director of the Environment Department at the Dubai Municipality, said that the Marine Forecasting and Warning System of the municipality has recorded the levels of sea waves and wind speed before and during the storm.
Al Harmoodi said: "The Shamal seasonal storm 2017 is the most powerful storm than all Shamal storms that blew over the Dubai coasts in the past years," Al Harmoodi noted.
"The Shamal wind became active on February 2 and the storm reached its peak (speed) the next day at 3pm in the high sea hitting a speed of 74kmph."
Due to that, Al Harmoodi said, the waves rose as high as 4.1 metres, according to the Dubai Municipality Survey Department, which lies opposite the Deira Islands project.
The Survey Department said its monitoring stations recorded waves as high as 2-2.5 metres high along the coastline of Dubai.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai