UAE weather alert: Ministry warns of hail, rain and thunderstorms, urges caution

The UAE Ministry of Interior has issued a weather alert, warning residents to take caution as rain, thunderstorms, hail and strong winds are expected to impact parts of the country. Officials cautioned that the unsettled conditions could lead to varying rainfall intensities, thunder, lightning and hail, along with reduced visibility in some areas.

Motorists were advised to slow down, adhere to safety guidelines and remain vigilant, especially in regions affected by the adverse weather. Residents were further urged to stay away from wadis, where rainwater can flow swiftly, and from any location prone to water accumulation. The ministry also advised against venturing out to sea or visiting beaches during the unsettled conditions.

This alert follows a forecast from the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) predicting a chance of rain across various parts of the UAE on Wednesday, October 21, with possible wind speeds reaching up to 50km/h. According to the NCM, conditions will primarily be fair to partly cloudy, with the potential for convective clouds to develop in the eastern areas before spreading towards the interior and western regions during the afternoon, accompanied by rainfall.

Winds will initially be light to moderate but could strengthen to fresh to strong levels at times, influenced by cloud activity and potentially causing dust to rise. Southeasterly to northeasterly winds are expected to blow at speeds of 10 to 25km/h, occasionally increasing to 50km/h. Overnight and into Thursday morning, coastal and inland areas may experience increased humidity and a possibility of light fog, while temperatures are forecast to reach highs of 39°C in Dubai and Sharjah, 38°C in Abu Dhabi, and 40°C in Al Ain and Liwa.

In Fujairah, temperatures are expected to peak at 33°C. According to the NCM, sea conditions are anticipated to be relatively calm in both the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. The Ministry of Interior emphasized the need for the public to strictly follow official safety instructions and avoid hazardous areas during the period of unsettled weather.