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Fall in humidity levels brings respite

According to the Central Weather Forecasting Bureau of the Ministry of Communications, although temperatures in most parts of the country will continue to remain in the high 40's, there would be a let-up in humidity levels which will on an average fall to around the 75 per cent mean across the UAE.

Abu Dhabi yesterday recorded a high of 43 degrees Centigrade and a low of 30 degrees Centigrade. Dubai registered 41 degrees and 31 degrees respectively, while Sharjah touched 42 degrees maximum and 30 degrees minimum.

Although the Garden City of Al Ain registered only a 55 per cent humidity , it registered a searing 44 degrees temperature-wise, with a low of 31 degrees. Liwa and Madina Zayed were the hottest places in the UAE, recording highs of 45 degrees Centigrade, although conversely they also registered the lowest levels of humidity at 55 and 60 per cent. According to weathermen, the overall temperatures need to be studied in conjunction with the humidity in order to determine the actual weather of the place. They say higher temperatures inversely usually meant lower levels of humidity.

Summer looked like it was already abating in places like Abu Musa and Tunb Kubara, which recorded 39 and 38 degree highs yesterday, while the Eastern Coast of the UAE, encompassing the mountainous Fujairah emirate was the coolest place yesterday at a mere 35 degree high.

Interestingly, Fujairah recorded the maximum humidity level of 95 per cent. Ras Al Khaimah recorded a maximum of 43 degrees Centigrade, while Umm Al Quwain and Ajman peaked at 42 and 41 degrees respectively.

The weathermen have noted that the next 48 hours will see hot and hazy conditions in general during the daytime with scattered low and medium clouds.

At night, relatively humid conditions are expected to prevail, with an early morning haze cover, which will dissipate as the day grows warmer. Winds will remain easterly to south-easterly, within five and 10 knots during the morning and night, becoming north-easterly to north-westerly and between eight and 15 knots, by afternoon and evening. For those intending to spend the weekend on the beach, the weathermen say that sea state is expected to be slight, with wave height likely to remain between 2 to 3 feet offshore, or one and three feet onshore.

"I think we are likely to see this spell of hot and dry weather for another two weeks at least, because it is usually October before the weather turns even bearable in the UAE, " said M. Aftab, a Pakistani salesman, who has lived in Abu Dhabi for over 12 years.

"Even now it is not really desirable to take kids out to gadens and parks because of the temperature discrepancies indoors and outdoors, although a lot of parents do for want of entertainment options," he added.

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