Cold spell and rough seas on the way this weekend

Cooler temperatures, as well as rough seas and dust storms in some parts of the country are expected this weekend, the National Center for Meteorology and Seismology in Abu Dhabi has said

The strong wind will stir up dust in the interior of the country, and visibility may drop to two kilometres on desert motorways, particularly in the Western Region. Sarah Dea / The National

The weather bureau has issued a warning of decreased visibility on the roads this weekend, with sandstorms blowing up in parts of the country.

The National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology in Abu Dhabi also warned mariners of rough to very rough seas.

The conditions, including cooler temperatures, are forecast to start on Friday about midday with north-westerly winds over the sea spreading over land.

“People should take care and avoid going out at sea starting from noon on Friday,” said a forecaster.

The strong wind will stir up dust in the interior of the country, and visibility may drop to two kilometres on desert motorways, particularly in the Western Region.

The temperature is to drop by an average of 4°C from Saturday, while coastal areas are likely to experience minimum temperatures of 16°C and highs of up to 24°C.

In interior areas, temperatures will range from 9°C to a maximum of 27°C.

The Northern Emirates may experience some rain next week, forecasters said.

“The cloud cover will increase on Saturday night and in the early morning on Sunday over the northern parts of the country, so there is a probability of some rain in the Northern Emirates,” one said.