Chilly chapter draws to a close

The UAE's cold phase might be over as temperatures are expected to slightly increase today.

ABU DHABI // The cold snap could be drawing to an end with temperatures expected to rise today.

Temperatures dropped as low as -0.6°C in the north earlier this week, with blustering winds and snow on the mountains.

The 1,900-metre peak of Jess Mountain, 25 kilometres from Ras Al Khaimah, was covered in snow and a thick layer of frost was detected on large areas of it yesterday.

The frost was caused by cold northern winds and rain clouds, said Maj Saeed Rashid Al Yamahi, the head of the air wing department of Ras Al Khaimah police.

But a forecaster at the National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology said temperatures would continue rising and that the chances of fog today were slim.

He added that temperatures were expected to increase by at least 3°C.

"Humidity will be low, about 75 per cent, which might not give us a formation of fog," said the forecaster.

Predicting fog requires a light wind specifically between 4-6kph and a humidity level between 85-95 per cent. It also requires a clear sky.

"We would need a lot of elements, including a clear sky, which didn't happen yesterday and clouds over the UAE might continue today," he said. "But people will barely feel the increase in temperature, only during the day."

The temperature for coastal areas was expected to reach 20-22°C today, with the lowest temperature set to be 14°C.

The wind speed is also set to decrease and get "back to normal, between 14-20kph".

Drivers were warned to remain vigilant on the road, especially in the early morning before the mist settles at about 8.30am.

The forecaster predicted fog for tomorrow, particularly over the coastal and internal areas.

Temperatures in January normally range between 14-28°C, but have been known to drop to 8°C, according to the website of the Dubai Meteorological Office.

Over the past few days, there have been average lows of 14°C.