Weekend weather alert as UAE temperatures close to 50°C

UAE forecasters predict hazy conditions

Hazy conditions are forecast for the UAE this weekend. Antonie Robertson / The National

The UAE is heading for a scorching weekend with temperatures expected to edge close to 50C.

The National Centre of Meterology and Seismology issued an alert on Thursday saying that the next 48 hours will be hot and hazy.

On the east coast, there is a chance of convective clouds over some eastern and southern areas by afternoon, associated with some scattered rainfall.

Winds will be light to moderate in general, freshening at times over some areas, causing blowing dust and sand over some exposed areas. Relative humidity will increase during the night and early morning over some coastal and internal areas, with a chance of fog or mist formation, especially over the western areas.

But overall conditions are expected to be drier and humidity relatively low, the global forecaster AccuWeather said. Humidity was 30 per cent in Abu Dhabi on Thursday morning.

Winds will veer southeasterly to northeasterly, 15 - 25 Kph, reaching 35 Kph at times during the daytime.

The outlook for the next 48 hours is more of the same, hot to very hot, partly cloudy and hazy at times, light to moderate winds freshening at times over some northern areas on Saturday, causing blowing dust and sand and poor visibility in parts.