Sandstorm reduces visibility in UAE

The lowest temperature recorded over the country on Friday morning was 16.6 °C in Jais mountain at 7am.

Abu Dhabi – Strong winds kicked-up sand and dust, reducing visibility in most parts of the country today.

According to the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS), the Southwesterly wind blowing at 60km/h reduced horizontal visibility by 1000 meters or less across the country and caused the sea to be rough with waves rising-up to 8 feet over some areas of the Arabian Gulf.

The lowest temperature recorded over the country on Friday morning was 16.6 °C in Jais mountain at 7am.

In Al Falah City, Abdulla Rahman he said he woke-up to strong winds and sand rattling his window. “The wind has been blowing since last night, and today everything was hazy and dusty. The wind has not let-up and continue to kick sand till the afternoon,” he said.

By midday, visibility was down to 700 meters at Al Maktoum airport.

Worshippers braved through the dusty storm to offer Friday prayers across the country. Workers in Dubai were seen struggling to walk to and from mosques.

The hazy/dusty and partly cloudy condition is expected to continue Saturday and Sunday with a chance of rain over the islands, the coastal and the northern areas due to increase in cloud formation.

The southerly winds will change gradually to fresh to strong north-westerly winds, blowing dust/sand with speed going up to 48km/h at times, reducing visibility and causing temperature to drop to 16°C in coastal areas and 14°C in internal and mountainous areas.

The sea will continue to be rough and very rough at times with waves rising up to 11-12 feet on the Arabian Gulf and 8 feet over the Oman Sea.

olivia@khaleejtimes.com