UAE weather: slightly cooler but humidity will rise

Forecasters say nights will continue to be sticky in the next few weeks with afternoon clouds.

Although humidity levels remain high over the entire country some areas are seeing a drop in temperature, possibly signalling the end of the intense summer heat.

Near the coast, humidity levels are steady at between 35 and 40 per cent but have decreased to between 25 and 15 per cent further inland, said a spokesman for the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS).

Overall, however, humidity is expected to increase over the next month.

"In general the humidity will be increasing, especially over the next month, but the temperature will be decreasing. This will be apparent if we compare next month and this month.

"Talking about tomorrow, though, the weather will be hot."

The increase in humidity was also the talking point among Australian cricketers, ahead of the first match of their three-match series against Pakistan, in Sharjah, which took place on Tuesday evening.

Mike Hussy, a batsman, said the humidity would not be used as an excuse by the Australian cricket team should they lose the one-day series or the twenty20 series.

Australia won the first of the one-day matches and play the second match in Abu Dhabi on Friday night.

The changes in humidity and temperature are linked to the circulation of sea and land breezes across the UAE, said the NCMS spokesman.

For night owls especially, humidity shows no signs of abating although it varies on a daily basis, most notably during the day, he said.

"Generally, the maximum is during the night and early morning, just before sunrise."

Sea breeze and land breeze have led to humidity gradually increasing over night, he said. "We can also see the temperature reaching to between 42°C and 45°C over the coastal areas, while in the internal areas it is between 47°C and 49°C.

"During this month, this is about the maximum temperature," said the spokesman.

In eastern areas, residents can also expect cloudy weather, due to the high temperatures and accompanying winds.

"In the afternoon, especially, there are clouds because it reaches the maximum temperature."

The official temperature recorded yesterday afternoon, by the Meteorological Forecast Office at Abu Dhabi International Airport, stood at 40°C.

Humidity was 30 per cent, and visibility was clear.

The centre also warned people living in or visiting Liwa to watch out for mist over the next few days.

"Visibility will reach up to 150 metres over Liwa and in some parts of the Western region," said the spokesman.

"Today we expect the clouds will be formed. Tomorrow, early in the morning and late at night, we expect to see some mist and fog as well."

Humidity is also expected to get worse in the next few days.

Over the weekend, the Eastern region may experience moderate winds, which can be associated with sand and dust clouds.

Regardless of clouds forming over the weekend, there is only a very slight chance of rain, the spokesman said.