UAE weather authorities warn of dense fog as seasonal temperatures drop

The UAE National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has warned of increased fog risks across coastal and interior regions as the country enters its seasonal transition, with visibility expected to drop below 1,000 metres on several routes on Sunday, 4 October. The shift coincides with the start of astronomical autumn and a gradual decline in overnight temperatures, creating the atmospheric stability required for dense fog formation. Atmospheric triggers for UAE fog According to the NCM, the current weather pattern is driven by high pressure in the upper atmosphere, which traps moisture close to the ground. Stable conditions, light winds, and clear skies allow relative humidity to climb to between 90 and 100 per cent. This leads to the formation of radiation fog, which occurs when the earth loses heat rapidly overnight, cooling the air directly above the surface until it reaches saturation. Meteorologists noted that north-westerly winds moving across the Arabian Gulf during the evening are transporting significant moisture inland. When these winds weaken overnight, moisture accumulates near the surface. The NCM distinguishes between fog and mist based on visibility thresholds; fog is officially recorded when horizontal visibility is restricted to less than one kilometre. Seasonal outlook and safety The transition follows the end of the climatological summer in September, during which average maximum relative humidity reached approximately 77 per cent. The NCM confirms that the…