Weather Chart
The weather chart during much
of the year shows a ridge of high pressure extending southwards into central
Saudi Arabia with lower pressure over the eastern Gulf. Prevailing light to
moderate north-westerly winds, known by their Arabic name shamal,
meaning 'north', are associated with mid-latitude disturbances. Along the
western coastal plain, sea breezes tend to dominate with light
south-south-easterlies at night being replaced by moderate north-westerlies
during daytime. This pattern changes on the east coast where the proximity
of the mountains results in gusty and less predictable wind shifts. A good
strong blast of northerly shamal is usually preceded in the UAE by
strong southerly winds, raising desert sands and reducing visibility. The
shift to northerly winds may be quite sudden and can be accompanied by rain,
thunder storms, or dust-storms. At sea, conditions can become quite
difficult for small boats with force seven winds whipping up twelve foot
high waves. In summer, weather charts usually indicate a broad area of low
pressure, extending from the western Sahara, across the Arabian peninsula
and across Asia, to China. Local pressure variations in the Gulf combine
with this to create weather conditions in the UAE. Steady north-westerlies,
predominating in the central and northern regions of the Gulf, do not
generally extend as far south as the UAE. When they do so, sea conditions
around Abu Dhabi become quite rough, while the rest of UAE's coastal waters
experience only slight swells.
Wind
Arabic interest in the
weather and in the different types of winds blowing across the desert stems
from the
Bedouin tribes,
for whom changes in weather could mean the difference between life and
death. For them, each wind had its own characteristics and was known by a
different name; thus, the main period of storms was Al-Barih al-owd,
while the minor storm period was called Al-Barih al-sagheer. The
first major Shamal occurring around May 25th is the Al-Haffar,
or the driller since it drills huge depressions in the desert dunes. The
second, arriving in early June, coincides with the dawn star, Thorayya
(Pleiades) and is therefore named Barih Thorayya. During this one,
which is somewhat more violent than the others, fishermen tend to remain in
port, not just because of the wind's strength, but because ancient folklore
tells them that this wind devours ships! Near the end of June, the last
shamal arrives, known as the Al-Dabaran. It is a violent wind,
continuing for several days. Local residents keep doors and windows firmly
barred in a battle against the all-penetrating fine dust driven by these
shamal winds into every conceivable nook and cranny.
Temperatures
The summer months, from June
to September, are too hot for comfort. Midday temperatures range from 35°C
to 42°C, and occasionally top 49°C at the height of summer. During this
period there is a sharp drop in night time temperatures, with these falling
to roughly half the midday readings, i.e. 20°C to 28°C, and providing a
welcome respite from the searing heat of the day. Gulf waters exert a
modifying influence on coastal zones, which experience less dramatic diurnal
fluctuations in temperature, and higher humidities than inland regions.
Although the evenings are not so cool, coastal towns do have the advantage
of pleasantly refreshing sea-breezes . Mountainous regions are also cooler
and less humid. From December to March, the climate is considerably more
equable with midday temperatures ranging from 25 to 35°C and falling to as
low as 9°C at night.
-
CNN Weather forecast for
Dubai.
Click here
-
BBC Weather forecast for
Dubai.
Click here
