Abu Dhabi // The unsettled weather is set to continue with heavy downpours and strong winds.
Medical experts are warning people to be extra cautious when travelling, especially drivers, after one hospital in Abu Dhabi had to treat 15 weather-related cases today.
Motorists were also warned not to visit valleys and places prone to flooding.
The cold front will move towards the north-east of the country, affecting Dubai, the Northern Emirates and Fujairah, said Mohamed Alabri, head of aviation meteorology at the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology.
Abu Dhabi is expected to be overcast with rain in places, but heavy downpours and strong winds are also expected across the UAE.
The weather centre has been working with municipalities and the police and will continue to do so over the weekend, Mr Alabri said.
He advised drivers to take care on wet, slippery roads.
“Also, people have to avoid going to valleys and places where there are floods,” he said.
Seafarers should avoid the Arabian Gulf and the Oman Sea until Monday, Mr Alabri warned.
The temperature is expected to drop by five or six degrees from tomorrow night but the weather is forecast to begin improving from Saturday morning, starting from the west and then towards the east and north.
Medical experts also urged caution. Dr Fawzi Al Ayoubi, chief of trauma and acute care surgery at Abu Dhabi’s Mafraq Hospital, urged people to avoid driving if possible, but if it was unavoidable to make sure they kept below the speed limit.
“We had 15 cases coming to our emergency department as a direct result of the weather conditions, resulting in road accidents,” he said.
“Six of them are admitted with significant injuries.”
Dr Ali Hasan, head of the emergency department at Al Noor Hospital, on Abu Dhabi’s Airport Road, said a few emergency patients were treated on this morning after falling over in the slippery conditions.
They suffered “moderate” trauma injuries, said Dr Hasan. He also urged people to take care in slippery conditions.
Dubai Health Authority (DHA) also urged motorists to be extra cautious when travelling.
“Due to the change in weather conditions, the DHA requests all drivers to be extra cautious on the roads today,” it posted on Twitter.
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