UAE weather: Speed limits reduced on major roads as thick fog descends

Temperatures will reach 26°C in Abu Dhabi and 25°C in Dubai once the fog clears

Early morning fog shrouds the Dubai Expo 2020 metro line near Discovery Gardens on Tuesday. Pawan Singh / The National

A deluge of mist and fog this week followed one of the coldest starts to January in years. Pawan Singh / The National

Drivers were urged to be cautious as poor conditions made the roads perilous. Pawan Singh / The National

An eerie image of Discovery Gardens near Jebel Ali early on Tuesday. Pawan Singh / The National

Tuesday's fog lingered for several hours, slowing traffic and leading to length tailbacks

A petrol station shrouded in early morning fog on Tuesday. Pawan Singh / The National

Dense fog greeted morning commuters and residents of Dubai And Abu Dhabi as they headed out to start the day. Antonie Robertson / The National

Visibility was down to a few dozen metres in many areas. Antonie Robertson / The National

Workers work along the side of the E10 highway in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

The fog affected most parts of the country on Tuesday

Police reduced speed limits on many major roads as the bad weather impacted visibility

Fog is a visible aerosol of minuscule water droplets – like a cloud on, or just above, the ground

The blanket stretched all the way from the coast to deep inland, almost reaching the UAE’s borders in the south

Forecasters issued a red alert as visibility dropped to less than 1,000m, and police warned drivers not to exceed 80kph

First introduced in 2019, the variable speed limit system is activated during bouts of bad weather, such as heavy rain, fog or during sandstorms

Anyone driving faster than 80kph when variable speed limits are in force will be fined

The decision to reduce speed limits made using weather reports, sensors installed on smart gates that estimate the visibility range and reports from police patrols

The fog season begins in mid-December and runs until the end of March, aided by clear skies and calm conditions

Dense fog greeted morning commuters and residents of Dubai as they head out to start the day. Antonie Robertson / The National

Speed limits were reduced on major roads in Abu Dhabi and Dubai as thick fog descended across almost the entire country during the early hours.

The blanket stretched all the way from the coast to deep inland, almost reaching the UAE’s borders in the south.

Forecasters issued a red alert as visibility dropped to less than 1,000m, and police warned drivers not to exceed 80kph.

First introduced in 2019, the variable speed limit system is activated during bouts of bad weather, such as heavy rain, fog or during sandstorms. Anyone driving faster than 80kph when the change is in place will be fined.

The decision to activate it is made using weather reports, sensors installed on smart gates that estimate the visibility range and reports from police patrols.

The fog season begins in mid-December and runs until the end of March, aided by clear skies and calm conditions.

Tuesday's fog is expected to lift by 10am, leaving a partly cloudy day.

The bad weather means there will be a chilly start, with many parts struggling to reach 10°C.

Temperatures will be cooler even after the sun rises, especially in the west, but could reach up to 26°C on the coast and 27°C inland.

Winds will be light to moderate.

Conditions will be moderate in the Arabian Gulf and slight to moderate in the Oman Sea.

Humidity will rise again overnight, raising the risk of further mist and fog on Wednesday, and again on Thursday.

The end of the week is expected to be dusty, partly cloudy and colder than previous days.

The decrease will be most noticeable on Friday. Saturday will still be dusty and cloudy, but temperatures will begin to climb again.