Caution: Heavy Dust to Last Until Sunday

Image Credit: Karen Dias/Gulf News

The country will see a ‘rising sandstorm’ over the next three days, caused by the effects of low pressure acceleration and the southerly winds.

Sand and dust will stay in the air as the country continues to experience the effects of low pressure

Mariam M. Al Serkal, Senior Web Reporter

Dubai: Dust and sand will linger in the air this summer as long as the country remains under the effects of low pressure, warned the weather office on Wednesday.

The National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) has also advised residents to take extra precautions while driving, as dusty conditions are expected to lower the level of visibility to less than 1.5 kilometres.

“Over the next three days, the country will see a rising sandstorm. This is caused by the effects of low pressure acceleration and the southerly winds,” said Dr Ahmad Habib, a meteorologist at the NCMS.

He explained that a large amount of dust will be found in the air, which will be concentrated mostly in the interior parts of the UAE.

“There will also be active south and south easterly winds, which will cause the dust and sand to rise up and lower visibility levels,” he said.

The strong gusts of sand and dust is expected to hit in the mornings, says Dr Habib, and it will affect open areas in particular.

Residents with respiratory ailments are advised to stay indoors or take precautions when outdoors.

But good news is in store for residents living in and south of Al Ain, as the weather forecaster predicts a chance of rain to fall across the area on Saturday or Sunday.

Humidity levels are also expected to reach a high of 85 per cent around the coastal areas, with a maximum temperature of 49 degrees Celsius in internal areas of the country.

In a statement, the NCMS said the weather will be hazy in general, and, “partly cloudy over the eastern and the southern areas, with a chance of some convective clouds formation by afternoon.

“The sea will be rough in the Arabian Gulf and the Oman Sea.”

(Source: GulfNews.com)