Weather: UAE braces for rain and a sharp dip in temperature

UAE residents have been warned to watch out for flooding in low-lying areas with rainfall and a sharp drop in temperature expected this week.

Rainfall is forecast in coastal areas, the eastern region and the Northern Emirates on Monday and Tuesday due to a change in weather conditions.

"The changes are because of low pressure. The wind direction will change from south-east to north-westerly especially over the sea," an official from the National Centre of Meteorology told The National on Saturday.

“There will be an increase in the wind speed to 45kph and the seas will be rough from Monday. We will have a drop in temperature by 4 degrees all over the country.”

A nip in the air would first be felt in the coastal regions and then spread across the country with the minimum temperature dipping to 18°C to 20°C in the cities and down 12°C in the mountains.

Rainfall and cloudy conditions would cause maximum temperatures across the UAE to drop to 28°C to 29°C on Tuesday.

With sunny skies and temperatures at highs of 32°C to 33°C on Saturday, the weather bureau said sudden changes usually occurred just before winter sets in.

“We are still in autumn when changes in weather happen quickly from stable weather one day to unstable the next day,” the meteorology officer said.

“We have one more month to start the winter in the UAE."

Authorities have asked people be careful on rain-slicked roads this week and to stay away from wadis that quickly fill up in treacherous weather.

The UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure said residents should “exercise caution in light of weather fluctuations.”

The ministry posted photographs on Twitter to highlight the risk of crossing river beds swollen with rain water.

The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority too asked residents to be careful.

NCEMA warned of “a chance of convective cloud formation over the eastern coast and northern areas associated with rainfall. Motorists are advised to drive carefully due to slippery roads and to stay away from valleys and dams.”

Heavy rainfall lashed parts of Fujairah and the Al Hail areas on Friday. Photographs on social media showed down motorists slowing down to navigate flooded roads.

The lowest temperature recorded in the country on Saturday morning was 10.5°C in the Jabal Jais mountains.