A man with his bicycle crosses a road during rain in Sharjah on Thursday. Photo: Kamal Kassim

Emad Eddin Khalil, Staff Reporter

Heavy rain with lightning, thunder and hail lashed various areas of the UAE on Thursday. According to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) the unsatble weather condition in the country will end on Friday.

NCM said that the country is being affected by an extension of a surface depression coinciding with an upper air trough of low pressure from the west, with a relatively humid cold air mass in the upper layers of the atmosphere, which causes the formation of cumulus clouds accompanied by rains, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).

Heavy rain lashed Sharjah and other parts of the country on Thursday bring down the temperature by a few notches.

Motorists found it difficult to navigate through the slippery roads. Sharjah Police warned residents to take caution while driving. Residents were also asked to stay away from canyons and flooded areas.

Sharjah Police urged residents to abide by the directives and guidelines issued by the police and competent authorities.

Light to moderate rain fell on Thursday morning on Al Falah, Al Hudayriat, Al Mushrif, Yas Island, Al Khatm, Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi Corniche, and on Al Amerah in Al Ain.

Heavy rains also fell on Madinat Zayed and Ghayathi Road in Al Dhafra and on Umm Al Quwain, which was accompanied by lightning and thunder on Al Rams and hail on Al Jazeera Al Hamra, Al Marjan Island and on Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah.

Moderate rains fell in Saih Al Salam and various areas in Dubai, Sharjah, and other regions of the UAE.

The lowest temperature in the country, 14.8°C, was recorded on Thursday, in Jebel Jais in RAK at 07:30am, UAE local time.

The NCM expected Friday’s weather to be partly cloudy to cloudy at times in some areas, with a chance of some cumulus clouds formation in the east and south, extending over some coastal and inland areas, accompanied by rains.

It will be humid at night and on Saturday morning in some inland and coastal areas, with the possibility of light fog formation, NCM reported.

Winds on Friday will be southwesterly to northwesterly, light to moderate and active to strong at times, with speeds ranging from 15 to 30, amounting to 45Kmph, with clouds formation.

The sea is expected to be moderate in the Arabian Gulf and light in the Sea of Oman.

Saturday’s weather, according to the NCM, will be generally clear to partly cloudy, with the possibility of cumulus clouds formation in the east in the afternoon, and humid at night and on Sunday morning in some coastal and inland areas, with the possibility of fog or light fog formation.

On Saturday, winds will be northwesterly, turning to northeasterly, light to moderate, active at times, with a speed of 15 to 25, amounting to 35kmph, and the sea will be light in the Arabian Gulf and in the Sea of Oman.

Sunday's weather is expected to be generally clear to partly cloudy, with clouds appearing in the east and north which may be cumulus in the afternoon.

It will be humid at night and on Monday morning in some coastal and inland areas, with the possibility of fog or light fog formation, according to the NCM.

Winds on Sunday will be northeasterly to northwesterly, light to moderate, with a speed of 10 to 20, amounting to 30 kilometres/h, and the sea will be light in the Arabian Gulf and in the Sea of Oman.

For Monday's weather, the NCM expected it to be generally clear to partly cloudy, with clouds appearing in the east and south which may be cumulus in the afternoon. It will be humid at night and on Tuesday morning in some coastal and inland areas, NCM indicated.

Light to moderate southeasterly to northeasterly winds will also blow, and the sea will be light in the Arabian Gulf and in the Sea of Oman.

The NCM appealed to individuals to be cautious while driving during rainfall, as well as with a lack of horizontal visibility, due to rainfall and winds which may be dust- stirring.

It also advised to stay away from places where water accumulates and flows through valleys.

Abu Dhabi Police called on motorists to be careful due to rainy weather conditions, and to adhere to the variable speed limit shown on signs and electronic information boards.