By Staff Reporter
Residents across the UAE can look forward to more rain and a dip in temperatures starting Tuesday, October 21, as the country enters the final stretch before winter.
According to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), cloud cover is set to increase over the eastern and southern parts of the country, bringing scattered rainfall as the transition from summer to winter continues.
Dr Ahmed Habib, a meteorologist at NCM, tsaid that the recent shift in weather is the result of a surface low-pressure system interacting with an upper-air trough. “About a week ago, a low-pressure system from the Arabian Sea began affecting our region, while upper layers of the atmosphere also experienced an extension of this system,” he explained. “This leads to high humidity and morning clouds, which often develop into heavy rainfall in mountainous and southeastern areas.”
Over the past week, several emirates—including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah—have experienced moderate to heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and cooler conditions. Many residents are even planning seasonal celebrations, such as Diwali, around the expected showers.
On Sunday, temperatures peaked at 39.3°C in Al Shawamekh, Abu Dhabi, while mountain areas in Ras Al Khaimah recorded lows of 18.1°C.
Convective clouds have been spreading across the country, and depending on their intensity, rainfall may vary and can even include hail in some regions. “This is typical during transitional weather periods,” Habib noted.
Residual Storm Effects
The meteorologist highlighted that the instability is partly due to residual effects of a recent tropical storm in the Arabian Sea, combined with northwesterly and easterly winds. Last week, Dubai’s Expo area experienced moderate to heavy rain, while other parts of the UAE saw scattered showers.
“We continue to monitor the skies closely. Cloud formation is expected in scattered areas next week, particularly over the eastern and southern regions,” he said.
Although winter officially starts on December 21, the UAE is already experiencing cooler days and unstable weather patterns. “Daytime cloud cover is increasing, while night-time temperatures are becoming more moderate. This is due to atmospheric dynamics, humidity levels, and heat transfer,” Habib explained.
He added that cloud seeding operations are continuing whenever suitable convective clouds appear, to enhance rainfall across the country.
✅ Key Takeaways:
Rain expected in eastern and southern UAE from October 21
Cooler temperatures already recorded, with lows of 18.1°C in some mountain areas
Weather changes linked to low-pressure systems and residual tropical storm effects
Cloud seeding continues to support rainfall during the transitional season
