After a week of pleasant weather, UAE residents are set to experience a significant change with heavy rain and lightning forecasted for next week, the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) reports. From Sunday to Tuesday, an upper air depression will deepen, causing increased cloudiness and scattered showers. This weather pattern is expected to bring convective activity, including rainfall of varying intensity, thunder, lightning, and even hail in some areas.
The Met Department has also indicated a drop in temperatures alongside a change in wind patterns from southeasterly to northeasterly. These winds, ranging from fresh to strong, will lead to dust and sand being blown around, with speeds reaching up to 45 Km/hr. Sea conditions will be rough to very rough in the Arabian Gulf and rough in the Oman Sea, especially during periods of cloudiness.
These weather disturbances are the result of a surface low-pressure system from the Southwest and an upper air depression accompanied by a cold air mass and a westerly trough. This combination will lead to varying cloud cover moving in from the west.
Interestingly, the UAE recorded its lowest temperatures of the year so far, with near-freezing temperatures observed in the Jebel Jais Mountains. This drop in temperature coincides with the beginning of the ‘Scorpion Season,’ a period known for increased rainfall, as noted by renowned astronomer Ibrahim Al-Jarwan. Spanning 40 days from February 6 to March 17, this season is characterized by abundant rain and winds fluctuating between Northwest and Northeast, marking a time of winter freeze for the northern regions of the Arabian Island.