UAE weather forecast: Temperatures to hit 49°C as humidity, fog return this weekend

Dubai's weather bureau predicts temperatures soaring to 49°C in various parts of the UAE on Wednesday, with even hotter conditions along the coast expected on Thursday before humidity and fog return over the weekend. The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) reported that Wednesday will be partly cloudy, with clouds potentially becoming convective in eastern areas during the afternoon.

Internal areas will see temperatures ranging from 44°C to 49°C, while coastal areas and islands will hit between 40°C and 46°C. Mountain temperatures are forecast to reach between 32°C and 38°C. Relative humidity could soar as high as 80% along the coast and in mountainous regions. Light to moderate south-easterly to north-easterly winds may strengthen to 35km/h at times, and sea conditions remain calm in both the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.

The NCM attributes the weather to an extension of a weak surface low-pressure system from the east, combined with an upper-air high-pressure system. Temperatures are expected to climb further on Thursday, especially in coastal areas. Clouds may again become convective over eastern regions during the afternoon, with humidity increasing overnight and into Friday morning in some coastal areas.

By Friday, the weather will be fair to partly cloudy, before turning cloudy in northern areas overnight and into Saturday morning. Humidity is likely to become more noticeable over the weekend. Fog or mist may develop over some coastal areas from Saturday night into Sunday morning, along with similar conditions overnight on Sunday and into Monday morning.

Winds are forecast to remain light to moderate throughout the period, while sea conditions are expected to stay calm in the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.