Fog leads to disruption on UAE roads for third consecutive day

Foggy mornings continued to disrupt vehicular movement causing road accidents in different parts of the country for the third consecutive days. But no major accidents were reported Thursday morning.

ABU DHABI // Fog continued to disrupt traffic this morning for the third consecutive day, although no major accidents were reported.

The Abu Dhabi-Al Ain, Dubai-Al Ain and Sharjah-Al Dhaid roads, and main routes in Ajban and Sweihan in the west of the country were blanketed in mist.

During the early hours, visibility dropped to less than 100 metres on roads in the northern and eastern interior.

The Department of Municipal Affairs and Transport reported an accident at 8am on Khaleej Al Arabi Road, which delayed traffic. Another crash happened about 8.30am at the Sea Palace underpass, but was cleared by 9am.

Dubai’s Emirates Road, after the Maliha Road intersection headed towards Abu Dhabi, Al Khail Road after the Meydan Road exit towards Business Bay bridge, and Sheikh Zayed Road before Dubai Internet City Metro Station, all had minor accidents about 8am, TrafficDXB said.

Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority advised motorists that “in case of heavy fog [that means] you can’t drive, stop your vehicle off the road, away from the traffic and turn on the waiting signals”.

The good news for drivers is that the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology has ruled out any fog over the weekend, but forecasters said that humidity could go as high as 95 per cent tonight and early morning on Friday.

The centre also warned anyone headed out to sea that conditions in the Arabian Gulf and Oman Sea will be rough over the weekend.

The maximum temperature in the interior today will be between 27°C and 30°C and minimum between 17°C and 22°C. Humidity levels could reach up to 95 per cent in the interior parts of the country.

The lowest temperature on Thursday, 12.5°C, was recorded at Jebel Jais mountain at 7am.