UAE records near-freezing 1.9℃ in Jebel Jais amid cold weather
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has recently experienced an unprecedented drop in temperatures, with Ras Al Khaimah’s Jebel Jais recording a bone-chilling 1.9℃ at 5 a.m. on Saturday.
Following a similarly low reading of 2.2℃ just one day earlier, this represented the lowest temperature measured in the nation this winter. The cold weather has produced distinctive winter scenes in the UAE, turning the highest point into a frosted picture.
Jebel Jais's below freezing temperatures caused frost to develop all across the peak. Early Friday morning, ice crystals were seen floating in water streams and resting on car rooftops, producing a display hardly seen in the usually scorching desert environment. Quickly grabbing to social media to post images and videos of the frost-covered locations, residents and weather buffs marveled at the odd sight.
Although the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) reports official temperature data, some meteorologists suspect that Jebel Jais's true temperature may have plummeted even farther, maybe approaching 0℃—the freezing point of water. Storm Centre's UAE weather report showed Saturday's frigid mountain conditions in a picture taken at 6:22 a.m. This rare occurrence has spurred discussions about how chilly the UAE may get, particularly in higher regions like Jebel Jais, which sits at 1,934 meters above sea level.
The cold wave has repercussions outside of Ras Al Khaimah. Temperatures clearly dropped in other UAE areas as well. The communications office of the emirate claims that temperatures in Umm Al Quwain dipped to 8℃ at about 6 a.m. Falaj Al Mualla recorded an even lower temperature of 7℃ in meanwhile. One of the coldest mornings of the season, the frigid weather persisted throughout several northern areas.
The abrupt temperature drop came after a period of moderate to heavy rain all throughout the nation. Shower counts on Friday for Abu Dhabi, Dubai, four other emirates helped to explain the wintery conditions. The rain greeted many of the locals since it offered a nice variation from the typically dry temperature. But the rain also caused slick roads and limited sight in certain places, which prompted authorities to provide motorist safety advice.
Though it had rained the day before, NCM meteorologists did not project any more Saturday precipitation. Fairly partially cloudy sky were forecast instead, providing a respite from the damp conditions for the locals. For those who favor warmer conditions, the UAE's shifting winter climatic patterns sometimes bring a combination of rain, colder temperatures, and sporadic fog.
Though the UAE boasts a hot desert climate, its winters may bring shockingly low temperatures, especially in mountainous regions like Jebel Jais. The area's winter temperatures over the previous few years have often dropped to single digits, and occasionally frost has been recorded at high altitudes. The current cold spell reminds us also that the UAE can have actual winter temperatures in some areas, despite its reputation for sweltering summers.