The UAE woke to chilly conditions on Sunday, with temperatures in the single digits in many areas.
In Dubai and the Northern Emirates, the mercury was below 10ºC — rare in urban areas — with similar conditions in Abu Dhabi.
The National Centre of Meteorology said the lowest temperature recorded across the UAE overnight was 1.9°C on Jebel Jais at 4:15am.
It was so cold that water on Jebel Jais froze. Storm Centre, a UAE group that tracks extreme weather, posted video of layers of ice that formed on standing water.
The next few weeks are likely to be the coldest of the year, and follow heavy downpours in Dubai and the north last week.
January and February are the wettest months of the year, with several days of rain in each month common, followed by temperatures rising in late February and early March.
Ramadan, which begins in March this year, is likely to be the coolest holy month in the Gulf for close to 20 years.
It is not uncommon for the UAE to experience bouts of freezing weather.
Jebel Jais, for example, was covered in snow in 2020, while the mercury regularly falls below freezing in other parts of the country.
In 2021, the NCM recorded an official temperature of -2°C in Raknah Al Ain.
The National reported that residents had to scrape ice from cars and icicles could be seen hanging from trees and plants that year. Hobbyist weather enthusiasts from Storm Centre, a UAE group that tracks the country's weather, said it had even recorded unofficial temperatures as low as -7°C in Raknah.
Meanwhile, the NCM forecast lows of 3ºC on Sunday in rural and mountainous locations, with highs of 22ºC anticipated in the hottest part of the day, with cool winds throughout. The seas are very rough and swimmers are warned to take care.
It also warned of a chance of fog across the UAE for the start of this week.
In its five-day bulletin, forecasters said the fog and mist could persist into Wednesday morning.
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Water flooding the streets due to recent rain in Sharjah. Pawan Singh / The National -
People wear warm clothes during a cold morning in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Traffic during the rain on Al Khail Road in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Water pumps installed to remove excess water near Ibn Battuta mall in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Dark clouds over Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
A rainy day in Dubai on January 27. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Wet weather hits the Emirates. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Surface water on the roads of Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Wet roads in the capital, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Safety signs for drivers in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
The rain hammers down at the ILT20 cricket in Sharjah. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Dark skies loom over flooding in Sharjah. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Large parts of the country are braced for heavy downpours. Victor Besa / The National -
Pedestrians walk in strong winds in Khalifa City. Victor Besa / The National -
Lifeguard watches over the Hudayriyat beach amid the chilled weather in Abu Dhabi. Talib Jariwala / The National -
Delivery riders park up as rain falls in Dubai this week. Police urged drivers to be cautious in wet conditions. Antonie Robertson / The National -
A taxi stalls in the water in Al Quoz. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Heavy rain fell overnight on Wednesday and was expected to continue on Thursday and Friday. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Some schools moved to online learning because of the weather. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Flooding in Barsha Heights and The Greens. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Heavy rain fell throughout the night with more downpours on the way. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Most food delivery companies took their riders off the roads on Wednesday. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Forecasts show Thursday and Friday will be wet throughout the day. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Disruption on the roads is expected, with drivers urged to be cautious. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Cars drive through the rain in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Cars drive through the rain in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National -
A pedestrian walks through the rain in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National -
A flooded street in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National -
A girl holding umbrella to shelter from a downpour in the Al Karama area of Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
A taxi negotiates flooded roads in Al Karama, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Traffic builds up amid wet weather in Al Karama. Pawan Singh / The National -
Rain batters off a windscreen. Pawan Singh / The National -
A huge puddle in Al Quoz. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Rainclouds loom over Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Dubai saw a short, heavy shower on Wednesday afternoon. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Thundery showers and some lightning are forecast in the coming days. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
January and February are the wettest months in the Emirates. Pawan Singh / The National
