UAE weather: Dust alert issued in Abu Dhabi

The country's Met office warns of poor visibility as wind speeds pick up

Dusty conditions in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. Victor Besa / The National

The UAE's weather centre has warned of dust storms and rough seas, with high winds of up to 40kph expected to persist until late afternoon.

The National Centre of Meteorology said on Thursday that a yellow alert was in place for large parts of Abu Dhabi until 4.30pm, due to the dusty conditions.

The notice calls on members of the public to “be aware” of the dusty weather, which it said would hamper visibility.

A more severe orange alert covers some south-western parts of the capital – including the area of Habshan – with people told to “be prepared” for hazardous weather events.

The NCM issued a notice for rough seas until 2pm on Thursday. It said strong winds could lead to challenging conditions, with two-metre waves in the Arabian Gulf.

Abu Dhabi residents woke up to hazy skies on Thursday as summer temperatures and humidity remain high.

The UAE has been hit by unstable weather in recent weeks, with rain, thunder, hail and fog reported.

In its latest five-day bulletin, the NCM predicts more dusty weather will sweep in on Friday, with rainfall expected in the eastern and southern areas of the Emirates on Saturday.