UAE Weather Alert: Scorching 50°C Heatwave and Expected Rain Stike the Emirates

Temperatures are poised to reach 50°C deep in the Abu Dhabi desert on Saturday as the scorching late summer heat persists. The National Centre of Meteorology predicts temperatures will increase and humidity will remain high across the Emirates over the weekend.

The NCM's online weather map predicts the mercury will rise to 50°C in Al Razeen, a remote desert area on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, on Saturday. Daytime temperatures are expected to peak at 42°C in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, rising slightly to 43° on Sunday. In Dubai, daytime temperatures are expected to reach 42°C on both Saturday and Sunday. Temperatures will remain in the early 40s in both emirates until at least Wednesday, according to the NCM's latest five-day weather bulletin.

While much of the country will be feeling the September heat in the days ahead, there will be some respite from the searing sunshine in the Northern Emirates. The NCM's weather map shows that daytime temperatures in Fujairah will be a somewhat-cooler 34°C on Saturday and 35°C on Sunday, and will remain in the mid-30s until at least Wednesday. Additionally, the weather bureau noted that cloudy conditions and September showers are expected in Al Ain on Saturday, with heavier rain anticipated in Al Quaa, situated in the Abu Dhabi desert.

Temperatures tend to gradually decline during September, as the long and hot summer slowly gives way to the country's pleasant winter months. However, humidity typically remains high in September, a month often dubbed “Sweat-tember” due to muggy and sticky conditions. Historical UAE weather statistics gathered over a 30-year period between 1991 and 2020 indicate that cooler weather is on the way, with average temperatures in September ranging from 29°C to 39°C and an average humidity of about 54 per cent. Temperatures drop noticeably in October and are followed by the winter period beginning in November, with January traditionally standing as the coolest month of the year.