It may be time to dig out your umbrella

ABU DHABI // The week may get off to a wet start. The national weather office has predicted scattered showers in Abu Dhabi today and tomorrow, and heavier rainfall in Al Gharbia and the northern emirates. "There is a good chance of light rain in Abu Dhabi and moderate or heavy rain in the western areas like Delma," a spokesman for the National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology said yesterday.

A low pressure mass would form into clouds over the northern Gulf and extend to the UAE, the spokesman said. "It will be developing gradually in the morning from moisture coming from the Gulf Sea," he said. "This is due to low pressure and north-westerly winds coming from a cool area in the north Gulf like Saudi and Kuwait." Maximum temperature today and tomorrow was expected to be about 26C. The introduction of cooler, strong winds would also mean rough seas, the spokesman said. "Please, everybody be careful. Fishermen should not go out. It is dangerous, especially with the clouds," he added.

The outlook for Dubai today is partly cloudy with a possibility of wind-blown sand in the open areas in the morning, followed by clouds and a chance of rain overnight. Tomorrow will be cooler with a chance of showers, according to Dubai's Meteorological Office forecast. The clouds will linger over Dubai on Tuesday and remain into Wednesday, with another small chance of showers in the early morning, the Dubai forecast said.