Heavy rain, thunder and lightning are on the way as a result of an area of low pressure due to sweep in from the west at the weekend. The unsettled spell will start on Friday night, when clouds will begin to build over coastal areas and western islands, bringing a chance of rain. Saturday could bring some scattered showers, accompanied by gusts of dust and sand. Heavy rain is expected from Sunday, starting in the west and moving north along the coast. This will be accompanied by thunder and lightning, forecast the National Centre of Meteorology. “Moderate to fresh wind is expected especially over the sea and with the convective clouds, causing blowing dust and sand over the exposed areas with poor horizontal visibility at times,” said the weather bureau. Gusts could reach 45kph, creating moderate to rough conditions in the Arabian Gulf and Oman Sea. Temperatures will be in the low to mid-30s. February and March are the rainiest months in the UAE, accounting for about 75 per cent of the annual total of around 3.5 inches (90 millimeters) of rain, according to the forecasters. Last weekend, Dubai was hit by lightning and rain storm, which resulted in water logging in several areas. In early March in 2016, the UAE’s “great storm” saw heavy rain and strong winds lash the emirates, leading police to issue travel warnings and airlines to cancel flights. Up to 11.6 inches of rain fell in a short period, which is equivalent to around three years’ annual rainfall.
