Cooler days ahead: UAE temperatures to dip to 17°C
As November takes hold, the UAE can expect cooler temperatures and the likelihood of some light rain in the coming days, providing a much-needed respite after months of soaring temperatures.
The National Center of Meteorology (NCM) forecasts a further drop in temperatures across the country this week, with mercury expected to fall to as low as 17°C in some inland and mountainous areas.
Weather experts said as the UAE experiences cooler days, residents can expect crisp evenings and, where conditions allow, some of the season’s first light showers.
“Residents should anticipate mild and pleasant weather, especially during the early morning and late evening,” Dr Ahmed Habib, a meteorologist at NCM said on Tuesday. “At night and early morning, there won’t be much change. The weather will remain pleasant, though slightly cold, particularly in inland and mountainous areas where the minimum temperatures will drop to between 17°C and 20°C, and in some cases below.”
Shifting wind patterns
There won’t be a dramatic plunge in temperatures over the coming days, but Habib said there would be a “mix of periods of cool weather and some warmer weather as the winds vary” over the coming days.
“We are in autumn right now so the weather can still transition between settled and unsettled periods. There can still be some relatively chilly mornings and nights depending on how the weather pans out across different regions,” he said.
North-westerly winds will continue to keep the UAE in their grip with temperatures expected to take a slight dip at the start of the week before rising marginally as low-pressure systems from the south and southeast move in.
Temperatures could hit as high as 37°C-38°C during the day but the cooler air will remain through the nights. Midweek should see a build-up in cloud and humidity over the country’s western regions and there could be some light to moderate rain over Al Dhafra and southern parts of Al Ain.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi daytime temperatures will range between 33°C and 35°C over the next few days, with temperatures falling slightly towards the end of the week, on Friday. Temperatures at night are expected to fall to as low as 22°C-24°C. The slow decline in temperatures will persist over the remainder of the month, until the start of the winter season on December 22.
Start of residents' favourite season
For some residents, the change in weather may also mean the beginning of their favourite season. It’s time for al fresco get-togethers with friends and families, weekend barbecues and desert escapades.
“I have already started feeling winter weather these past few days,” Dubai resident Yahiya Mohammed said. “We went to the desert last weekend in the afternoon and it was already quite pleasantly cool. I can’t wait for it to dip below 20 degrees."
In Sharjah, Maria Gonzales from the Philippines said the cooler weather has lifted the spirit of her family. “It is such a relief after the months of heat. My family is already planning weekend barbecues at the park. We also go hiking and camping with a few other families every winter. It’s when the UAE really comes alive.”
Abu Dhabi resident Suhas Rai said the lower temperatures also mean he can enjoy some simple pleasures that are usually missed during summer. “You can finally step outside without having the sun beating down on you. Evening walks, trips to the beach and drives in the desert, that is what we look forward to the most,” he said. “This is the best time of the year to be outdoors in the UAE.”
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