Dubai: Officials at the weather bureau have warned motorists to exercise caution on the roads as hazy and foggy conditions are expected to persist through the weekend and on Sunday, when schools reopen.
“Everybody should exercise care, especially drivers, as visibility will be lesser than normal due to fog formation. On Saturday and Sunday, there is a high chance of concentration of fog over the western area, especially from Abu Dhabi to Ghweifat and the Liwa area. Some patches of fog or mist may develop in Dubai, especially in the interior parts,” a weatherman from the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) told Gulf News.
Residents woke up to another foggy morning on Friday with reports of reduced visibility in parts of the country. Visibility fell in areas between Dubai and Al Ain with Sweihan reporting the poorest visibility of between 50 to 100 metres in some parts. Poor visibility was also reported in Liwa as a fog curtailed it to 650 metres while a mist reduced visibility in Al Hamra to 2,000 metres.
While both weather phenomenons are caused by masses of water droplets, they differ in density. Fog is a type of cloud that reaches ground-level and reduces visibility to less than one kilometre. Mist is less dense and is quicker to dissipate due to different factors such as wind, temperature, or when relative humidity changes. Mist can reduce visibility to less than 2 km.
“Since yesterday, the air mass has started to change direction, coming from the northwestern direction over the sea, increasing humidity that results in fog or mist formation late night and early morning over the coast and inland,” the forecaster said.
Temperatures will be between 44 degrees celsius and 48 celsius during daytime, dropping to 28-32 celsius at night on Saturday. The western part of the country will experience higher humidity levels ranging from 5 per cent to 15 per cent during the day to 90 per cent to 100 per cent by night.
Moderate winds will kick up dust over some areas but their speed will drop by evening and early morning.
The weather is expected to induce moderate to rough conditions in the Arabian Gulf and Oman Sea.
