The UAE just experienced its hottest April since official records began in 2003, with average daily highs reaching a blistering 42.6°C, according to a The National report, citing the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).
Driven by hot south-westerly desert winds, the unseasonal heatwave pushed temperatures into the upper 40s across parts of the country. Abu Dhabi’s Sweihan topped the charts on Friday with a scorching 46.2°C.
In stark contrast to last year’s April floods, this year’s extreme temperatures have triggered public health warnings and renewed concerns about the growing impact of climate change.
“Summers are already around 10 days longer,” said Dr. Diana Francis, a climate expert at Khalifa University, in a The National report. She warned that projections indicate the summer season could eventually stretch up to six months, squeezing out the transitional spring and autumn periods.
However, some relief is on the horizon. The NCM forecasts a slight dip in temperatures beginning Tuesday, thanks to a shift in wind direction from south-west to north-west. While the days will remain hot—Abu Dhabi and Dubai are still expected to hit 43°C on Monday—the mercury is expected to drop by a few degrees midweek.
The cooler breeze will come with a trade-off: gusts reaching 40kph may stir up dust and sand, lowering visibility across parts of the country, especially over open areas and the sea.
The NCM’s five-day outlook warns of fair to partly cloudy skies and dusty conditions, with the potential for blowing sand through Wednesday.
Despite the approaching cooldown, summer’s grip remains strong. The weather bureau notes that temperatures in May traditionally climb as the region heads deeper into the hottest months of the year, with past records reaching a staggering 50.2°C.
