ABU DHABI // A dense, early morning fog swept over the capital on Saturday morning, prompting authorities to issue safety warnings.
“The fog was just like white clouds, very low,” said Anas Abou Allaban, 17, a student who lives on Reem Island and woke up at 6am to find the city shrouded in white and grey.
"You could see the top of buildings, but everything below was not visible. It's similar to what happened in Dubai a while ago. It's the first time I saw something like this in Abu Dhabi."
Ahmed Habib, a meteorologist with the National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology, said the fog began to form just after midnight as an increasing rate of humidity mixed with cool overnight temperatures over the western region. The fog stretched from Abu Dhabi to the border with Saudi Arabia.
Visibility was reduced to just 50 metres in Liwa and to 800 metres in Abu Dhabi, Mr Habib said.
The dangerous driving conditions prompted warnings from both the centre and Abu Dhabi Police, who issued cautionary messages via Twitter on Saturday morning.
“Low visibility due to fog formation on different parts in Abu Dhabi and highways,” Abu Dhabi Police tweeted at nearly 7am. “Motorists are urged to take extra caution.”
Mr Habib said the fog continued to hang over the sea in the Corniche area until around 1pm.
He warned there was a chance for more fog formation on Saturday night and Sunday morning, as overnight temperatures are expected to remain cool, around 14°C to 18°C on the coast and 6°C to 12°C inland.
"Everybody take care in this fog and if you find fog, take care on the road, it's very dangerous for the driver," Mr Habib said.
As for daytime temperatures, they are gradually on the increase. Today’s high is expected to reach 26°C in the coastal areas and up to 28°C inland. On Sunday, the temperature will be about two degrees higher, Mr Habib said.
rpennington@thenational.ae