Cars move at a slow pace during heavy rain.

Emadeddin Khalil, Staff Reporter

Separate areas of the country on Sunday witnessed light to heavy rainfall, as result of an extension of surface low-pressure system from the west, accompanied with an extension of an upper air trough of low pressure, which may continue until Wednesday, according to the National Center of Meteorology (NCM).

Light rain began at 12:00 am on Al Sila area in Al Dhafra region, while it was medium on Sir Bani Yas Island, and medium to heavy on Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed International Road, and on separate areas in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Sharjah, and Umm Al Quwain.

The heavy showers led to surface run-offs in Kadra Valley in Ras Al Khaimah, the NCM said. Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah recorded the country’s lowest temperature, which was 7.1ºC at 3:15 am on Sunday.

The National Centre of Meteorology also called the public to exercise caution while driving during rain and the lack of horizontal visibility, caused by rain and winds, advising them to stay away from sloping places and surface run-offs.

The Abu Dhabi Police also called on drivers to be careful due to weather fluctuations and to abide by the variable speed shown on signs and electronic road signs, reduce speeds to 80 km/h, adhere to safe driving, and not be busy with anything other than the road to keep everyone safe.

The NCM expects that the weather on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to be partly cloudy to cloudy at times, especially over some northern and eastern parts and the sea, with the chance of rainfall occasionally.

Light to moderate southeasterly winds are expected too, active at times, stirring dust and sand, especially with clouds, with a speed of 15-25 up to 40 km/hr. The sea will be moderate to rough at times in the Arabian Gulf and in the Oman Sea. In a related context, the national seismic monitoring stations affiliating with the NCM, on Sunday morning, monitored an earthquake and a tremor in the Arabian Gulf that were imperceptible in the UAE and had no effect.

“A 4.7 magnitude earthquake on Richter Scale was recorded in Arabian Gulf at 06:49 (16/01/2022) "UAE time” according to the national seismic network,” the NCM said on twitter. It also stated that the stations of the national network recorded an earthquake after the tremor, with a magnitude of 5.0 - Richter in the Arabian Gulf at 08:25 am.