Heavy fog blanketed Dubai roads this week, reducing visibility for motorists. The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) said fog or mist would form over some coastal and internal areas until at least Thursday, 26 February.
Dubai often experiences thick, patchy fog in the early morning hours just before the weather gets significantly hotter, particularly during the transitional period from winter to summer.
Fog is most common during the transition from the cooler winter months, November to March, to the hot summer months. As the weather shifts, the desert sand cools down rapidly at night, while the air remains relatively warm and humid. When this hot, moist air hits the cooler ground, it causes condensation, forming dense, low-level fog, often called radiation fog.
This fog usually occurs between 2am and 9am, often creating very high humidity levels, up to 90%, making it feel much hotter and stickier before the sun fully evaporates it.
While it is a staple of the winter season, these fog episodes are often seen as the last gasp of the cooler weather just before the intense, hot summer weather takes over. Clearly, summer is around the corner!
According to the five-day national forecast, Dubai will experience fluctuating temperatures in the coming days. Here's the weather report for the rest of the week:
Wednesday, 25 February: Weather will be partly cloudy, getting humid by night and Thursday morning, with possible fog in internal areas. Sea will be moderate, rougher in the Arabian Gulf at night. Temperatures are expected to rise to 31°C in Abu Dhabi and 32°C in Dubai. Nights will see lows of 17°C and 19°C, respectively.
Thursday, 26 February: Similar weather conditions will continue, with fair to partly cloudy skies and a risk of fog inland overnight into Friday. The sea will be rough in the Arabian Gulf and in the Oman Sea by evening. Temperatures are expected to drop to 28°C in Abu Dhabi and in Dubai. Nights will see lows of 18°C and 20°C, respectively.
Friday, 27 February: Skies will remain fair to partly cloudy. Rough seas in the morning are expected to subside gradually. Temperatures are expected to stay the same, 28°C in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Nights will see lows of 20°C and 18°C, respectively.