Fog in UAE: thick clouds cause more traffic delays and poor visibility

The National Centre of Meteorology urged motorists to be extra cautious and follow the traffic rules

Fog is lingering around Dubai this morning. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Heavy fog has settled in over the Emirates for a third day, wreaking havoc for commuters across Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.

Foggy and misty weather is set to continue over some coastal and internal areas of the country on Thursday, with poor visibility to less than 500 metres until 10am, forecasters at the National Centre for Meteorology (NCM) said.

They urged people to be extra cautious and follow the traffic rules.

Fog covered Abu Dhabi city and airport, Sharjah International Airport, Dubai International Airport, Al Ain Airport and Al Bateen Airport as well as major thoroughfares in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain such as Hatta-Oman Road, Jabal Ali-Al Hibab Road.

Emirates airline has warned of disruptions to flights due to "severe fog" and urged travellers to check their flights before they head to the airport.

Dubai Police urged motorists to be cautious around Emirates Road, near Al Maktoum Airport, after an accident.

The thick fog and reduced visibility on the roads has again plagued the commute for motorists across the country.

Slow moving traffic was reported on E311 Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Road, from Al Turrfa in Sharjah to Nad Al Sheba in Dubai, and on E11 Al Ittihad Street from Industrial Area 7, to Al Khabaisi.

Commuters should also expect delays on S112 - Maliha Road from Industrial Area 17, Sharjah to Al Badia; on D62 - Beirut Street from Al Qusais Industrial 4 to Al Muhaisnah 3, and E44 - Al Awir Rpad near Warsan 3 and Wadi Alshabako.

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In Abu Dhabi, Khalifa City was experiencing heavy traffic.

Temperatures on Thursday will range between 12°C and 25°C along the coast, 10°C to 27°C inland and between 8°C and 18°C in the mountains.

The weekend weather was expected to be fair to partly cloudy, with light to moderate winds. Fog was expected to continue until at least Saturday morning, NCM said.

Humidity levels are expected to increase overnight and on Friday morning over the coastal areas, reaching 95 per cent along the coast and inland, and up to 65 per cent in the mountains.

Seas will be slight to moderate in the Arabian Gulf, becoming rough on Friday, and slight to moderate in the Oman Sea.