Be prepared for a rainy Christmas period

Drivers warned to slow down as the rain falls as the National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology in Abu Dhabi forecasts a wet Christmas for the UAE.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 23, 2013: A police officer directs traffic around a flooded section of road near Media City in Dubai on December 23, 2013. Christopher Pike / The NationalReShow more

Winter rain brought little festive joy to commuters this morning who had to battle with dangerous driving conditions in parts of the UAE causing bottlenecks and delays.

Dubai’s Road & Transport Authority quickly turned to social media to warn motorists to take precautions and slow down.

It tweeted: “RTA requests all vehicle drivers and road users to be cautious in such fickle weather conditions that are prevailing the UAE.”

Dozens took to twitter to share their rain thoughts too, among them were Ashwin Deshpande who posted “Traffic woes early in the morning”. Meanwhile Middlesex University Dubai warned: “Rain - the UAE’s equivalent to snow in Europe! Wonderful weather, drive safe on the slippery roads.”

Off the roads the weather poses problems for those thinking of holding barbecues and other outdoor events in the run-up to Christmas, the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology forecasts.

While a white Christmas is definitely not on the cards, the cold temperatures and cloudy weather will persist over the next few days.

There is also a significant chance of rainfall on Monday and Tuesday, one forecaster said.

“We expect some rain from time to time, in some areas in the northern and western parts of the country,” he said.

As yet, the weather bureau could not accurately predict what the weather would be for Christmas on Wednesday.

There were showers on Sunday, with a weather station in the mountains of Ras Al Khaimah recording a total of 1.4 millimetres until 4pm. Some windy weather is also to be expected, said the forecaster, who extended a warning to those planning boat trips.

“It is not a suitable time to go at sea as it will be rough in the next two days,” he said.

Temperatures are likely to remain cool with highs of 20°C to 26°C during the two days. Lows of 14°C to 16°C are expected in the early morning and evening.

In the mountains, minimums of as low as 5°C are forecast.