Weather you like it or not, it's going to be foggy and dusty

Dense fog blankets the skyscrapers of Dubai Marina during the early hours on Tuesday. - Photo by Dhes Handumon

Dubai - On Thursday, more cloudy weather is expected, with moderate to fresh winds stirring up dust and sand.

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By Staff Reporter

Published: Thu 8 Dec 2016, 6:51 PM

Heavy fog descended over parts of the UAE again on Wednesday, with the country's National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) predicting at least two more days of foggy weather.
Over the last few days, fog has gripped parts of the country, causing accidents in several locations as well as disruption of flight services in Dubai and Sharjah. Road accidents were reported from Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain. Meanwhile, the weather was partly cloudy throughout the UAE on Wednesday, particularly over the coast, western and island areas.
Relative humidity was expected to increase in the evening, with a chance of further fog. Temperatures were cool, ranging from highs of between 25 and 29 Celsius and lows of between 18 and 22 Celsius in coastal areas, with highs of between 28 and 33 and lows of 14 to 20 in internal areas.
The forecast
On Thursday, more cloudy weather is expected, with moderate to fresh winds stirring up dust and sand. Similar weather is expected on Friday. On social media, people expressed both joy over the fog - which has produced beautiful pictures - and concern over its potential to cause accidents. "Something about the eerie mood of the fog cloaking Dubai ... ebullient," tweeted an Emirati woman.
Another Emirati resident pleaded with Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to make sure people are driving safely. "Please make more people aware that they should put their lights on during fog, dusk, dawn and night," he said. "So many cars driving dark."
12 crashes in UAQ
The dense fog has led to 12 traffic accidents in Umm Al Quwain. Lt-Col Saeed Obaid Bin Aran, Director of Traffic and Patrols Department of the UAQ Police Directorate General, said the foggy weather blanketed all the internal and highways of the emirate. "This has lowered the horizontal visibility to less than 100 metres, mainly in the early hours of the day, obstructing smooth driving and leading to several traffic accidents."
Though 12 accidents were recorded, no one has been reportedly received serious injuries, he said.
Lt-Col Bin Aran then urged all drivers to be cautious on the roads during the fog, keep safety space, remain in lane, avoid poor takeover, and turn on the lights.
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

Staff Reporter

Published: Thu 8 Dec 2016, 6:51 PM

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