From warm weekend to stormy skies: UAE weather takes a turn
Coastal cloud cover signals change in atmospheric conditions
DUBAI – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is preparing for a spell of unsettled weather following a warm weekend, with conditions expected to shift noticeably from early next week.
According to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), the period from April 18 to April 22 will begin with rising temperatures and stable skies before transitioning into cloud cover, stronger winds and possible rainfall across several regions.
The evolving pattern is set to affect coastal, inland and mountainous areas differently, with clear variations in temperature ranges and sea conditions.
Warm start
Saturday and Sunday are forecast to remain fair to partly cloudy, with a steady increase in temperatures across the country. Coastal areas are expected to record highs between 29°C and 32°C on Saturday, rising to 30°C to 35°C on Sunday, while interior regions may see temperatures climb from 32°C-37°C to 34°C-39°C.
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Mountain regions will remain comparatively cooler, ranging between 18°C and 27°C on Saturday and 19°C to 28°C on Sunday. Winds during this period will be light to moderate, generally northwesterly to southwesterly on Saturday and southeasterly to northeasterly on Sunday, reaching speeds of up to 30-35 km/h at times.
Sea conditions are expected to remain slight to moderate in the Arabian Gulf and slight in the Sea of Oman, maintaining relatively calm marine conditions through the weekend.
Cloud build-up
By Monday, temperatures are forecast to peak before the weather begins to shift. Coastal highs are expected to reach 32°C to 38°C, with interior areas climbing further to between 36°C and 42°C, marking the warmest day of the period. Mountain regions may see temperatures between 20°C and 29°C.
Conditions will remain fair to partly cloudy during the day, but cloud cover is expected to increase over coastal areas and islands by night. Winds will continue at light to moderate levels, blowing from the southeast to northeast, with speeds reaching up to 35 km/h.
Sea conditions will remain slight to moderate in the Arabian Gulf and slight in the Sea of Oman, although the gradual increase in cloud cover signals an approaching change in weather patterns.
Midweek shift
A more noticeable shift in conditions is expected on Tuesday and Wednesday, as skies turn partly cloudy to cloudy with dusty conditions and a chance of light rainfall, particularly over coastal areas, islands, and parts of the west and east.
Temperatures will begin to ease, with coastal highs dropping to 30°C-36°C on Tuesday and 29°C-35°C on Wednesday. Interior regions are forecast to see highs of 35°C-41°C on Tuesday before falling to 32°C-39°C on Wednesday. Mountain temperatures will range between 19°C and 28°C on Tuesday and 17°C to 26°C on Wednesday.
Winds are expected to strengthen during this period, shifting to northwesterly directions and reaching speeds of up to 40 km/h. These conditions may lead to blowing dust and reduced visibility in open areas.
Sea conditions in the Arabian Gulf are forecast to become rough at times, especially westward on Tuesday and more widely on Wednesday, while the Sea of Oman is expected to remain slight to moderate throughout.