“Overcast skies, with a dash of spicy nostalgia on the horizon…”
Understanding that “rain” might still be a sensitive topic for some UAE locals, let’s clear things up right away: the UAE’s five-day forecast hints at a slight chance of light showers in select areas. We’re far from needing kayaks at sunrise here; think more along the lines of frizzy hair and light raincoats. So, there’s absolutely no need to raid the stores for Indomie noodles just yet!
We’re likely to experience more patchy cloud cover, with light to moderate winds, convective cloud formation, and scattered showers, along with potentially rough seas. The steady wind might bring a refreshing breeze, but it also carries the risk of blowing sand and reduced visibility.
The cloud cover has also led to a drop in temperatures in some areas. Up in Ras Al Khaimah, it even dipped to a chilly 18.7º last night.
The lowest temperature recorded across the country this morning was 18.7°C at Jais Mountain (Ras Al Khaimah) at 1:45 AM UAE local time.
Coastal regions, including the urban hubs of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, should brace for significant temperature fluctuations, with lows around 27º and highs reaching up to 44º. The humidity levels are also expected to be unpredictable, swinging from as high as 85% to as low as 20% at times.
The source of all this unsettled weather is a surface low-pressure system moving in from the east, colliding with an extension of weak upper-air low-pressure.
Is there a chance we’ll see any cloud seeding?
Last year, we spoke with Mr. Omar Alyazeedi, deputy director of the National Center of Meteorology (NCM), to learn how cloud seeding operates in the UAE and just how frequently it’s used. Here’s what he shared with us…
The UAE conducts nearly 300 cloud seeding missions each year as part of its strategy to boost rainfall.
Are there specific types of clouds that respond best to cloud seeding, if so what do they look like and where can they most often be found?
While not all clouds respond equally to cloud seeding, cumuliform clouds—such as cumulus clouds with their characteristic heaped shape and strong updrafts at their bases—are generally the most responsive to these efforts.
The UAE, with its arid climate and less than 100mm of rainfall per year, has seen promising results from cloud seeding. Experiments conducted during the summers of 2004 and 2005 showed that cloud seeding can boost precipitation by 15% in a turbid atmosphere. This enhancement could potentially reach up to 25% in a cleaner atmosphere.
How much rainfall a year can be attributed to cloud seeding in the UAE?
The UAE, with its arid climate and less than 100mm of annual rainfall, benefits from cloud seeding as demonstrated by statistical experiments from the summers of 2004 and 2005. These studies showed that cloud seeding can increase precipitation by 15% in a turbid atmosphere and potentially up to 25% in a cleaner atmosphere.
#أقل_درجة_حرارة سجلت على الدولة صباح هذا اليوم 18.7 درجة مئوية في جبل جيس (رأس الخيمة) الساعة 01:45 بالتوقيت المحلي لدولة الإمارات.#The_lowest_temperature recorded over the country today morning was 18.7 °C in Jais Mountain (Ras Al Khaimah) at 01:45 UAE Local time. pic.twitter.com/Wytqosmjfg
