Cloud-seeding boosted rainfall yesterday as thunderstorms, showers and brisk winds swept across parts of the country, creating downpours and sand storms in areas such as Al Ain. According to a statement released last night by the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS), winds in Al Ain reached speeds in excess of 60kph and visibility dropped to less than 500 metres.
The storms, which hit eastern parts of the emirate, were caused by humid south-easterly winds that collided with northerly winds in the late afternoon, causing instability and heavy cloud formations. In an attempt to maximise the amount of rainfall, NCMS aircraft seeded the gathering clouds. Wadis ran with water as high humidity combined with storms originating in the Indian monsoons, leading to the formation of cumulus clouds over the mountains of Oman and the UAE, said Mohammed al Abri, head of the NCMS.
"There is a lot of cloud over the eastern mountains still; we expect there to be occasional rain and strong wind until the end of August. "This happens quite often during the summer because of the heat and the monsoon rains being pushed this way from across the sea. Further inland there is the possibility of wind bringing a lot of sand into the air." The NCMS reported "medium to heavy" storms in a number of areas over the weekend, including Hatta and Khatm al Shikla, and said its radar network was continuing to monitor the build-up of cloud.
A spokesman for the Dubai Meteorology Office said the heat and humidity was likely to remain relatively comfortable in most parts of the country over the coming week. "It should be fairly comfortable in the cities, with low humidity and temperatures at a maximum of 42 or 43 degrees Celsius," he said. "There is also not likely to be too much dust in the air over the next few days." Last week, forecasters said temperatures in August were usually about 40°C, but that this month had been unusually hot. Evening temperatures for the past several weeks have averaged around 37°C.
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