The United Arab Emirates experienced a bout of rainy weather and significantly cooler temperatures, marking the coldest day of the winter season so far. Rain fell across multiple emirates, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain, and Ras Al Khaimah, prompting safety warnings from authorities.

On Friday morning, many residents across the UAE woke up to rain, with some areas reporting lightning. The cold air was particularly noticeable in mountainous regions, with the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) recording a low of 2.2°C on Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah at 6:45 am, the lowest temperature recorded this winter.

In Dubai, motorists navigated wet roads in areas such as Umm Suqeim, Jumeirah, Al Safa, and Al Jaddaf. The Dubai Police issued urgent safety advice to drivers, urging them to reduce speed, maintain a safe distance from the road’s edge, use low-beam headlights, and ensure their windshield wipers were functioning correctly.

Light rain was also reported in other emirates, including Mohamed Bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi, Suhaila in Sharjah, and Umm Al Quwain. Videos emerged showing strong winds and moderate rain in the Al Ghadeer area of Abu Dhabi, highlighting the varied weather conditions across the country.

The NCM provided further details about the weather patterns, forecasting partly cloudy to cloudy skies, particularly in northern, eastern, and coastal regions. Humidity was expected overnight and into Saturday morning in some inland areas, with a possibility of fog or mist formation.

Winds were predicted to be light to moderate, blowing from northwest to northeast at speeds of 15-30 km/h, occasionally gusting up to 40 km/h and causing blowing dust. The sea conditions were also affected, with rough to moderate conditions expected in the Arabian Gulf and moderate to slight conditions in the Oman Sea.

The rainy weather extended beyond Friday. Reports indicated light rain in parts of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah on previous days as well. The NCM reported rainfall in various locations on January 2nd, including Ghantout, Saih Sudaira, Al Faya Road in Abu Dhabi, Saih Al Salam in Dubai, and An Nayfah in Al Ain. Light rains also continued into the morning of January 3rd, affecting areas such as Mohamed Bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi, Al Jaddaf, Umm Suqeim, Jumeirah, Al Safa in Dubai, Suhaila and Al Dhaid in Sharjah, Al Rowdha in Umm Al Quwain, and Adhen in Ras Al Khaimah.

The NCM also forecasted the possibility of frozen precipitation, such as sleet or snow, over the northern mountains. This added another layer of complexity to the weather conditions, prompting further caution for those venturing into mountainous regions.

The highest expected temperatures were forecast to be between 20 and 24 degrees Celsius, while the lowest temperatures were expected to range from 11 to 16 degrees Celsius.

The Dubai Police reiterated their calls for caution on social media platform X, emphasizing the importance of safe driving practices during inclement weather. The combined effects of rain, wind, and cooler temperatures created challenging conditions for motorists and residents alike, underscoring the importance of heeding official warnings and taking necessary precautions.

– For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram

Images: Instagram @dubai_photoconcierge