September starts in a few days, so does meteorological autumn!

Meteorological autumn starts in September and lasts till November in the northern hemisphere. These are the months where temperatures start to decline. However, astronomical autumn starts on Sep 22/23, when length of day becomes equal to night time. However, meteorological autumn starts before astronomical autumn since days are [...]]]>

September starts in a few days, so does meteorological autumn!

Meteorological autumn starts in September and lasts till November in the northern hemisphere. These are the months where temperatures start to decline. However, astronomical autumn starts on Sep 22/23, when length of day becomes equal to night time. However, meteorological autumn starts before astronomical autumn since days are already getting shorter with less solar energy day by day.

But for folks residing in the Arabian Peninsula, it may still feel like SUMMER! It will take up to end of September and early October for some cooling to take effect. Of course. countries that are more to the north will cool quicker and faster, than compared to other countries like the UAE and the gulf countries.

What happens in autumn in the Arabian Peninsula? During the first half there will be a gradual decrease in temperatures, with warm temperatures still prevailing. But from the second half, especially in November, a noticable change in seasons takes place as the atmosphere gets ready for winter. In November, cold fronts associated with clouds and rain begin to affect  Middeteranian countries and gulf region (especially KSA and Kuwait) and often extend to Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Oman. Meanwhile, during late September to early November, the Arabian Sea goes through a cyclone season once again. While rare, tropical storms and cyclones can form and sometimes affect Oman or Yemen.

Cooler later.

Sorry for the short [...]]]> Chance of thunderstorms/rain on Sunday and possibly Monday.

Cooler later.

Sorry for the short post.

Happy Eid

Parts of Saudi Arabia have seen intense thunderstorms today on Nov 25 with Jeddah receiving 70mm [...]]]> A very potent low pressure system has started forming over the Arabian Peninsula and Southwest Asia. The low pressure system will have a widespread effect over Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Southern Iraq, Iran, Bahrain, Qatar, and then possibly the UAE and Oman.

Parts of Saudi Arabia have seen intense thunderstorms today on Nov 25 with Jeddah receiving 70mm in less than 12 hours as thunderstorms exapand to the holy city of Mecca. There are reports of death cases in Jeddah due to the flood. We should all pray for the safety of all people and pilgrims currently in Saudi Arabia.

Storms rumbling through Saudi Arabia

This low pressure system is set to intensify further and produce heavy rain over the northern portion of the Arabian Gulf including surrounding cities in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait for at least 3 days (Thursday to Saturday). Later the associated cold front of the system is forecasted to arrive into the UAE bringing thundershowers and cooler air with it.World Meteorological Organization listed Jeddah as a severe weather are with 70mm of rain.

Days are getting shorter, and nights are getting cooler as we reach the end of November, announcing the end of Autumn. In the Middle East, the middeteranian countries, Iran, and Iraq have already switched seasons [...]]]> It has been a while since my last post. Weather-wise, so many and not so many things have changed depending on your location!

Days are getting shorter, and nights are getting cooler as we reach the end of November, announcing the end of Autumn. In the Middle East, the middeteranian countries, Iran, and Iraq have already switched seasons with several waves of rain, thunderstorms, some mountain snow, and cold weather during November. However, the Arabian Peninsula countries are still experiencing warm days (albeit pleasant), except for Northern and Saudi Arabia and recently Kuwait where a couple of cold fronts brought scattered thunderstorms, and cooler air reached Kuwait and central interior region of Saudi Arabia. Kuwait had 8c degrees change in high temperature between Nov 17 and 18. From now till mid January, it is going to be a free fall of temperature there.

While the northern parts of the Arabian Gulf (adjacent to Kuwait) had a few thunderstorms, the central and eastern parts of it are yet to see significant changes. Altough in the last few days, thunderstorms formed in the central part of the gulf, they more confined to the northern shores  near Iran even though a few showers reached Bahrain. Therefore the countries of Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and the UAE are yet to see full-fledged wet cold fronts.

In the UAE, temperatures have been reducing very gradually. Perhaps the only noticable weather event is the cool nights around mid November with lows reaching 14c due to an upper and dry 500mb low that only reduced night temperature. Rain-wise in the UAE, mountainuous thunder-showers continue to form infrequently due to the warm days, but that should completely stop as we approach winter.

So meteorological winter (Dec) is only 10 days away, and the weather should adjust quickly to reflect that. In fact it seems that a potent trough could bring wet conditions starting from Nov 25 from central Iran to Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Central Saudi Arabia, and ending in the Red Sea. But that remains a forecast for now.

And for those living in the UAE, we need to wait and see whether the days between Sunday Nov 22 and Monday Nov 24 could bring a few thundershowers and clouds as an upper 500mb trough brings cooler air aloft that could trigger a few thunder-showers. Expect fresh winds this week as well.

Stay Tuned for interesting updates.

An upper low is diving southward to the eastern Middeteranian countries will bring rain and thunderstorms to various areas in the Middle East. Between today (Saturday) and Wednesday Nov 4th, 2009, rain and thunderstorms will affect most [...]]]>

Precipitation forecast. Notice the green/blue shading over Kuwait and surrounding areas. Much higher rainfall over the Middeteranian and Iran

An upper low is diving southward to the eastern Middeteranian countries will bring rain and thunderstorms to various areas in the Middle East. Between today (Saturday) and Wednesday Nov 4th, 2009, rain and thunderstorms will affect most of the eastern middeteranian coasts of Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine. There will also be rain in NW Iran and parts of Iraq.

But Kuwait and parts of Saudi Arabia (close to Kuwait and northern Arabian Gulf) are set to get their first meaningful rain of the season. There will be clouds and chance of scattered light showers there on Sunday and Monday. But it is not before Tuesday until a very unsettled weather takes over with a cold front moving from southern Iraq to the northern portion of the Arabian Gulf, passing by kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Around 1 inch of rain (25 mm) is possible in Kuwait (if not more). The areas near the middle of the Arabian Gulf may get some clouds/rain. While temperatures are set to decrease in northern Arabia, eastern Arabia continues to experience warm weather. Perhaps the 2nd week of November could bring some changes to other Gulf countries.

Lightninig map, disturbed weather taking over

This has been a short post.

500 mb heights as of 0000 GMT Sat Oct 24, 2009 (GFS)

__________

Over the next [...]]]> It has been quite unsettled in the northwest areas of Saudi Arabia for the last 24 hours with several thunderstorms. This is due to plunging jet stream associated with a 500mb low that brought cooler air aloft. Thunderstorms have also affected Iraq

500 mb heights as of 0000 GMT Sat Oct 24, 2009 (GFS)

__________

Over the next few days, the risk of scaterred thunderstorms will still be there over NW Saudi Arabia, parts of Iraq, and western Iran. But by the end of next week and around Oct 30 and 31, a much stronger cold front with more widespread rain and thunderstorms could affect NW Saudi Arabia (and Iraq and Iran). The forecast might change, but it should be watched!

Precipitation forecast for Sat Oct 31 2009

(Source: Accuweather.com)

Weather-wise, October is generally hot and humid with comfortable nights [...]]]> Astronomical autumn has begun on Sep 22, when the sun shines directly on the equator. Expect shorter days in the UAE as the sun’s direct rays get closer to the Tropic of Capricorn (due to happen by Dec 22), announcing the start of astronomical winter.

(Source: Accuweather.com)

Weather-wise, October is generally hot and humid with comfortable nights during dry non-humid days (which are few). Cold fronts in the UAE during October are rare. But during November (especially late), you can expect some thunderstorms and cold fronts during a good winter. The weather doesn’t get cool enough for some night-time sweaters until December, which heralds the start of winter. Average highs fall from 37c in Spetember to 26c in December. Meanwhile, the chance for some tropical low systems originating in the Arabian Sea increases in October and Novermber. While rare, Oman and Yemen are the most likely countries in the Arabian Peninsula to be affected (if any).

 

During autumn our summer thunderstorms usually form more to the north near Masafi and not only near Al Ain. On Sep 5th, 2009, heavy thunderstoms hit Fujairah and Kalbaa.

 

Fujairah meteogram