Emirates Meteorology Blog

Rain and storm clouds deprating Dubai, UAE on Mar 2nd, 2010 (from GulfNews.com)

Winter is really gone I guess, but it didn’t depart before sending more rain & storm clouds. The photo above best explains how mother nature can deliver wild changing weather, and definetely chaging seasons as well. While Spring has started in the UAE, the window of rain continues until early April. But with increasing temperature, winter has become shorter in the UAE. Considering that the L-T average high in March is 25c in Dubai, we are now recording average highs of around 30c or more in March over the last few years.

What to expect next: increasing temperature with a small chance of low pressure systems making a comeback during Spring. In 2009, storms and heavy rain affected the UAE between Mar 25 and Apr 10th. I hope history repeats itself.

How do I rate this winter?! It has certainly been one of the warmest winters I have experienced in the UAE. But there were several rain events that saved this winter from being a bad one I guess.

What do you think about this winter?!

Mar 3rd update:
The cold front hit the UAE with thunderstorms and gusty winds, dumping more than 60 mm of rain in Dhudna and Masafi, and around 50 mm in Ghantout. Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah received around 40, 22, and 35 mm of rain.

Thunderstorms have also hit Qatar, Oman, the Arabian Gulf, and Gulf of Oman.

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Severe weather warning has been issued in anticipation of powerful thunderstorms from Monday night till late Tuesday.

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/582634-dubai-issues-severe-weather-warning

Thunderstorms have already been affecting parts of Qatar, Oman, and Empty Quarter. The strongest storms (to form later) are forecasted to hit the UAE. Chance of hail, high winds, dangerous lightning, and heavy rainfall.

It is far from over.

Enjoy the brief break on Sunday and get ready for another BIG round of heavy thunderstorms and rain. But this time, it is going to last for around 24 hours!

A strong cold front is going to arrive to the UAE on Monday (PM) and will result in widespread prolonged periods of rain with periods of heavy rain and heavy thunderstorms. Again, every thunderstorm can be capable of producing hailstones, torrential rain, and strong winds. Northern UAE is at risk, but evey spot in the UAE can get severe weather. Parts of Oman, the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and southern Iran are also at risk of heavy rain.

Extreme rainfall predicted between Monday PM till late Tuesday March 1-2, 2010

Many areas could again get more than 2 inches of rain, with a strong likelhood of more than 3 inches of rain. I must say I can’t rule out more than 4 inches of rain as well under the influence of monstrous thunderstorms.

Take care and watch out for:

• Torrential rain from thunderstorms and prolonged heavy rain
• Dangerous lightning
• Hailstones
• Damaging winds
• Poor driving conditions
• Large accumulation of water
• Wadis Flashflood