Rain cools weather nationwide

ABU DHABI // Umbrellas and raincoats came out of hiding yesterday as rain showers across the Emirates washed away the dust from recent sandstorms and sent temperatures dropping. Light rain fell in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, along with Sharjah, Ras al Khaimah, Fujairah, Umm al Qaiwain and many other cities and towns. By late afternoon, the average rainfall reached 4.5mm in the Al Gharbia region. Temperatures hovered around a pleasantly cool average of 24°C.

Among those braving the rain were more than 5,000 people who turned out at Dubai's Al Mamzar Park for the annual Terry Fox run. Participants stayed dry under colourful umbrellas as they ran, walked, cycled, rollerbladed and rolled in wheelchairs in the largest one-day fund-raiser for cancer research. The event is held worldwide to commemorate Fox, a Canadian who, despite losing most of his right leg to cancer, set out to run across Canada at the age of 21 to raise money for research. Money from the Dubai run will support research at the UAE University in Al Ain.

Forecasters have warned the country to be prepared for more scattered rain and overcast skies in the next few days, predicting the wet weather could last until Monday. The heaviest rainfall is expected tomorrow, particularly hitting the northern inlands and mountainous areas. "Residents in villages and valleys and any flood prone areas will have to brace themselves for heavy rainfall," said a spokesman from the National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology. "There will be rain everywhere in each of the seven emirates."

The weather centre cautioned drivers to take extra care, because low visibility and slippery roads will make conditions potentially hazardous. [e-mail]