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UAE to experience storms, unstable weather in coming days

Abu Dhabi - The National Centre for Meteorology has advised residents not to venture out into rough seas.

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Weather conditions in the UAE will continue to be unstable in the coming days, according to forecasters at the National Centre for Meteorology (NCM), Abu Dhabi. Cloudy conditions accompanied with rainfall over scattered areas in the coastal region and very rough seas are expected to prevail till Wednesday, November 14. 

However, forecasters have said that UAE will be relatively safe, and will not experience extreme flash floods similar to the ones in Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. Floods in these countries have caused more than 30 deaths - prompting several state of emergencies announcements.

What is causing flash floods in the region?

Dr Ahmed Habib, meteorologist, NCM explained there is a big difference between the UAE and weather conditions in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain. "The difference is the pressure system or the synoptic system, that affects the region." In weather terms, synoptic this means the pressure pattern, fronts, wind direction and speed and how they will change and evolve over the coming few days. Severe weather conditions occur when high surface temperatures coincide with cold upper troughs.

Dr Habib said, "UAE is currently experiencing an extension of the low pressure in the upper air over Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, causing flash floods."

He added, "There are cloud formations in the central region of Saudi Arabia, and some of these clouds are moving towards the UAE. They are revolving over the east of UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain, travelling towards the island of Abu Dhabi, coastal areas and parts of northern Abu Dhabi. This is a continuity of the conditions prevailing in the region."

Dr Habib said, "Furthermore, the transition period between the summer and winter, the weather changes quickly, as clouds move from west to east, causing turbulence in weather,"

On Sunday, November 11, residents experienced severe weather here in the UAE. "On Monday, since the previous night from 10 pm to 10 am the next morning, the weather was stable. In the afternoon, in the East of Abu Dhabi, there was cloud forming in the far East of the UAE, coming in from Saudi Arabia. This phenomenon caused some rains in the area between Abu Dhabi and Dubai," explained Dr Habib.

UAE to have dusty, rainy weather till Wednesday

In the coastal and north part of UAE, incoming clouds are expected to give heavy rain, and strong winds, causing very rough seas and dusty weather. "There will be blowing sand, and also some scattered rain," he added. The NCM has also issued a strong warning for everybody to be careful, and not go towards the rough seas.

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On Tuesday, November 13, northwesterly winds are expected to travel with speed 20 - 35 Km/hour, reaching 45km/hr especially over the sea, causing blowing dust and sand with poor horizontal visibility at times.
 
By Wednesday, the northwesterly winds, becoming northeasterly and easterly by the afternoon, with speed 18 - 30 km/hr, reaching 35 km/hr. The seas will be moderate by then.

On Sunday, police officials in all Emirates responded to the rains by sending out an emergency alert to mobile phones warning residents to stay indoors for their safety. Dr Habib added, "People should be careful while driving until Wednesday, November 14. There will be special cloud formation and rains in the north of UAE. After Wednesday, the weather should improve, except for few cloud formation, and seas will be rough in some areas."

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com