Picture used for illustration.

Abdulrahaman Saeed, Staff Reporter

 Scattered parts in the country on Thursday witnessed light to heavy rain, which started at 9:46pm on Wednesday, on the Umm Al Sheif field, Abu Dhabi Corniche, Al Samha / Al Rahba in Abu Dhabi, Al Marfa’a Road - Ruwais - Habshan - Ghwwaifat in the Al Dhafra region, Mohammed Bin Zayed City Abu Dhabi, Al Shawamekh, Mussafah, Al Ajban, Seeh Shuaib, Baniyas District, Jebel Ali in Dubai, Al Arad and Umm Ghafa in Al Ain.

This was reportedly a result of the country being affected by a surface air depression accompanied by a weak air depression in the upper atmosphere. The depression would gradually deepen to reach its peak on Saturday and Thursday, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).

The NCM appealed to individuals to exercise caution while driving during rainfall, particularly with low visibility. It also warned against going to the sea, which will be rough due to the active winds, which would also stir dust over open areas.

The weather on Friday was expected to be partly cloudy to cloudy at times with a chance of scattered rainfall. Light to moderate South easterly to Northeasterly winds freshening at times, blowing dust, with a speed of 20–30, reaching 45km/hr were likely. The waves would be moderate to rough in the Arabian Gulf and in Oman Sea.

On Saturday, it was expected to be cloudy with rainfall of different degrees of intensity over scattered areas of the country, associated with lighting and thunder at times. Moderate to fresh Southeasterly to Northeasterly winds could be strong over the sea with convective clouds, blowing dust and sand, leading to poor horizontal visibility over the exposed areas, with a speed of 25–35, reaching 55km/hr. The waves would be rough to very rough in the Arabian Gulf and rough in Oman Sea.

The NCM also indicated that the weather on Sunday would be partly cloudy in general and cloudy at times with rainfall accompanied by lighting and thunder over scattered parts especially northward and eastward. The relative humidity would increase during the night and Monday morning over some internal areas.

Moderate to fresh Southeasterly to Northeasterly winds, blowing dust and sand, could become strong northwesterly winds over the sea by evening and night, with a speed of 25 –35, reaching 55 km/hr at times. The waves would be rough to very rough especially with clouds in the Arabian Gulf and rough in Oman Sea.

Friday's weather was expected to be fair to partly cloudy in general especially eastward with a probability of light rainfall during the morning. Moderate to fresh northwesterly winds, strong at times blowing dust and sand, with a speed of 25–35, reaching 60km/hr were likely. The waves would be rough to very rough in the Arabian Gulf.