Emirates Meteorology Blog » Iraq

Region Suffers from Extreme Heat

Ahmed — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:01:55 +0000

The Gulf region is suffering from exceesive heat. In Kuwait, burning highs of 50 and 51c have been recorded from June 14 to 16, after several days of temperatures in late 40s. Saudi Arabia has also been experiencing high temperatures especially Riyadh, Al Ahsa, and Dammam where daily highs of 45-49 have been recorded. In fact, the same situation is accross the whole gulf region including Qatar and the UAE as well.

May 2010 to Start with a Bang in Arabia

Ahmed — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 07:47:28 +0000

More weird weather on the way!

May, a month that is supposed to be dry, one month away from June, the start of summer, will start with a fresh and strong round of thunderstorms and rain over central and NW Arabian Peninsula.

A deep low (typical of late winter) will pass over Turkey and cooler air into northern Arabia, resulting in explosive thunderstorms over a large part of Saudi Arabia. Western Yemen, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar are also at risk of these thunderstorms. Rain and thunderstorms will also extend to much of Iraq and western Iran. The middeteranian countries and Egypt might also be getting some showers and a few thunderstorms.

God help Saudi Arabia from these monsterous thunderstorms! The probability of flood is there!

Rainfall during the next 7 days. Purple spots indicate heavy rain

April 2010 Above Average Rainfall in Arabia

Ahmed — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 07:30:59 +0000

April proved to be really wet across a large part of the Arabian Peninsula, mainly over much of central Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar have also been affected by periods of thunderstorms. Iraq and western Iran also got periods of heavy rain/showers/thunderstorms.

Rain in Riyadh

Thunderstorms were forming on more or less a daily basis for at least 3 weeks. And this is not reaching an end yet, thanks to abundant equatorial moisutre coming and weak upper troughs!

But how much rain really fell?

The first map below shows rainfall accumulation/day during the last 30 days. Well, Saudi Arabia got more rainfall than France or Germany! It seems that rainfall was between 50 and 250 mm. And SW Saudi Arabia was hit hard by around 200 mm of flooding rain, which resulted in fatalities.

Rainfall for last 30 days ending on Apr 30, 2010

What is even more astonishing is the upcoming May storm!

Spring Thunderstorms Continue in Arabia late April 2010

Ahmed — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 13:03:06 +0000

Tropical moisture continues to flow into Arabia, and lows continue to drift over SW Asia, inducing thunderstorms formation over Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, and Iran. During the next 7 days, it will be the same with effects possibly reaching Bahrain and Qatar.

There are hints that early May will also show a similar pattern; however, that will be extremely abnormal given that May is a very dry month and summer is on the way

Last 7 days rainfall in Arabia

Ahmed — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 15:37:54 +0000

Numerous thunderstorms have affected the Arabian peninsulua with severe storms in SW Saudi Arabia as well as strong storms in Bahrain. There are reports of casualities in Saudi Arabia

Between 100 and 200 mm have fallen over Saudi Arabia

How About Some Summer-like Thunderstorms in Arabia

Ahmed — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 13:21:19 +0000

A few showers and thunderstorms might affect the UAE

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Latest rainfall accumulation map

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Latest forecasts is calling for heavy thunderstorms to form during the next 7 days (at least) on the middle section of the Arabian Peninsula. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait are likely to experience sudden heavy thunderstorms, albeit scattered most likley. The UAE and Oman has a smaller chance later this week.

Iran and Iraq are also prone to showers, rain, and thunderstorms!

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An unusual weather pattern is setting over the Arabian Peninsula. Hot weather has already taken over; however, tropical moisture is flowing abundantly via the equator, coupled with a week upper low. All of this is already resulting in some thunderstorms over Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Again on Monday, these thunderstorms will gain power and continue forming randomly making threats to Yemen, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain. Starting Tuesday, the UAE and Oman will be exposed to the potential development of such thunderstorms until Friday.

Stay tuned for more updates

Spring Thunderstorms to Affect Saudi Arabia and Other Gulf Countries Apr 7 – 13, 2010

Ahmed — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 18:21:40 +0000

Saudi Arabia is prone to heavy thunderstorms especially April 9 and 10. Thunderstorms could also hit Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and a smaller chance for the UAE and Oman on Sat. Rain showers will also hit Iran and Iraq.

During the next 7 days, scattered thunderstorms could form daily across parts of Arabia, mainly central Saudi Arabia.

Unstable weather could make a return late March in the Gulf

Ahmed — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 13:30:38 +0000

An upper-air low is tracking eastward over Iraq and Iran, causing rainshowers and thunderstorms over many areas in the Middeteranian countries, Iraq, and Iran during the next 48 hours.

At the same time, its cold front will extend to parts of the Arabian Peninsula, bringing the risk of thundershowers to Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and especially Saudi Arabia near the shores of the Arabian Gulf. By Sunday, the weak cold front arrives to the eastern gulf near the UAE, bringing in scattered clouds and a small chance of thundershowers. Before the arrival of the cold front, it will be very hot in the UAE.

Once again on Tuesday and Wednesday, an upper air trough could result in some thunderstorms in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, possibly Kuwait, and the UAE. Afterthat, there is the potential for high winds and cooler air.

An upper low bringing widespread rain to some parts of SW Asia

Summer Meets Winter; Showers and Thunderstorms in the UAE & Oman Feb 27-28, 2010; Severe Weather Possible March 1-2, 2010

Ahmed — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:38:55 +0000

Surface lows and fronts on Fri Feb 26 2010

An upper low is currently over the middeteranian countries which brought rain showers and thunderstorms there including some heavy showers to Egypt. There are also rain and thunderstorms over parts of Iraq, Iran, NW Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Currently hot weather with southerly winds are affecting the UAE & Oman. It feels like summer here in the UAE with temperatures hovering in mid 30s. Right now the cold front (blue) is unable to cause any rain/thunderstorms formation due to interaction with dry air. On Saturday/Sunday it will result in thunderstorms and rain showers over many parts of the UAE (especially north) and northern Oman (Slight chance of rain in Bahrain and Qatar). Some thunderstorms could be strong. Rainfall amounts could be anywhere between 1 to 25 mm.

Spring starts on March 1st, 2010 with a collision between summer and winter with heavy rain and thunderstorms in the UAE.

Outlook for the Next 5 Days; Potential for a cold wave and strong winds in the Arabian Gulf Region

Ahmed — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 10:44:57 +0000

Sunday could bring showers to Kuwait and northern Arabian Gulf, southern Iraq, and southern Iran.

Starting Monday, very cold upper air associated with an upper air low approaching Iran, will unleash more rain and snow over Iran and Iraq.

On Tuesday, this cold front starts crossing the Arabian Gulf region, but sadly, there will be little moisture for this cold front to tap on. Therefore, there will just be some clouds with a small chance of rain in the northern parts of the UAE and Oman.

Between Sunday and Tuesday, it will be very warm in the UAE with near-record highs.

Nevertheless, cold air behind the low is going to suddenly cool the whole region starting Tuesday for northern Arabian Gulf such as Kuwait. On Wednesday, cool air arrives to the UAE and the southern gulf region, dropping high temperature by around 8 degrees (from late 20s or even 30c to early 20c and late teens by Thursday). In a nutshell, at time of coldest air, high temperature will hover around mid teens in Kuwait city and Riyadh, mid to late teens in Bahrain and Qatar, and late teens in the UAE most likely on Thursday. The weather will quickly warm up by the end of the weekend, but not before experiencing the coldest nights of this season.

But, there are signs of extreme weather in the UAE, the Arabian Gulf, and the Gulf of Oman. I’m not talking about rain. I’m referring to high winds and waves. Due to the extreme proximity of cold and warm air, surface high and low pressures, windy and gusty conditions will develop very quickly on Wednesday and Thursday across the UAE. Highest expected winds could reach 55 Km/h with gusts possibly hitting more than 60 Km/hr. That means the weather will feel much cooler than recorded temperature due to wind chill.

Considering that there will almost be a full moon on Wednesday/Thursday, I’m wondering how high sea waves could be. This photo has been taken on Jan 11, 2005. Will something similar happens? More accurate forecasts later.

High waves in Sharjah Jan 11, 2005