UAE weather office issues rain alerts as storms hit Abu Dhabi region

Heavy rainfall hit parts of Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra region on Wednesday, 5 August, as the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) issued alerts for convective cloud formations across the UAE’s eastern and western territories. The weather agency confirmed that precipitation concentrated over Al Mirfa and Ghiyathi, prompting local safety warnings for motorists navigating reduced visibility. Convective clouds and wind alerts The NCM issued a yellow alert effective until 8:00 PM on Wednesday, warning of rain-bearing clouds moving across internal and coastal areas. Surface winds reaching speeds of 40 km/h are expected to kick up dust and sand, significantly lowering horizontal visibility on motorways. Sea conditions in the Arabian Gulf and the Oman Sea are forecast to remain slight to moderate, though potentially rough during cloud activity. The immediate trigger for the update is the documented rainfall in Al Dhafra on Wednesday afternoon, following a period of high summer temperatures. The NCM uses cloud seeding technology to enhance precipitation from such convective formations, a standard practice in the UAE’s national meteorological strategy during the summer months when humidity and heat levels peak. Temperature outlook and safety measures Despite the rain, temperatures across the UAE remain high. Maximum temperatures in internal areas are expected to fluctuate between 44°C and 49°C today, while coastal regions will see highs of 40°C to 45°C. Humidity levels are projected to…