Latest news with #Sweihan
The National
6 days ago
- Climate
- The National
What is causing the record high temperatures in the UAE?
The UAE is experiencing record breaking heat this month, with residents facing temperatures in excess of 50°C, according to the National Centre of Meteorology. Sweltering heat recorded in Sweihan recently at 51.6°C has smashed the record for the highest temperature in the month of May in the UAE, which was reported the previous day when it reached 50.4°C in Abu Dhabi emirate. Before then, the peak for the month was 50.2°C in 2009. The National Centre of Meteorology has in recent days reminded the public to drink lots of fluids, avoid direct exposure to the sun, ensure children are not left in cars and also to make sure pets have plenty to drink. Here, we look at the record temperatures and consider what factors could be behind them. What temperature records have been broken? Saturday was the second record-breaking day in a row, with the UAE having past its all-time record for May on Friday, when a temperature of 50.4°C was reached in Abu Dhabi. The extreme temperatures are more akin to what might be expected at the height of summer, which does not officially begin until June 21. Saturday's record was barely shy of the highest reported temperature for any time of year since records began more than two decades ago. That peak was set in Al Yasat Island in Abu Dhabi emirate in 2010, when thermometers reached a sizzling 52°C. This month's record temperatures come hot on the heels of the UAE recording its warmest April, with the average high last month being 42.6°C. 'The new thing about these conditions is that they are happening really too early, before even the official start of the summer season. The second element is how extreme they are compared to the record,' said Dr Diana Francis, an assistant professor and head of the Environmental and Geophysical Sciences (Engeos) lab at Khalifa University. How is climate change affecting the region? Climate change may be playing a role in both the UAE's record temperatures as well as the region's escalating weather, especially given that previous research has indicated the gulf is heating up especially quickly. Campaign group Greenpeace MENA is drawing awareness to the issue, after temperatures in Kuwait remained close to 50°C throughout the week, Morocco issued an official heatwave alert for several provinces, and Iraq and Egypt grappled with an intense increase in temperature. "These conditions are no longer rare; they are the new normal in a region heating at nearly twice the global average. These extreme temperatures have arrived earlier than ever, as Hajj season is about to start," said regional campaigns lead, Kenzie Azmi. "Even though our region is not historically responsible for the problem, we are among those suffering the most." In 2022, Greenpeace published a report, Living on the Edge: The Implications of Climate Change for Six Countries in the Middle East and North Africa Region, which stated temperatures were 'warming nearly twice as fast as the global average'. At the time the report was released, Kathryn Miller, a science consultant for Greenpeace Research Laboratories, said that, while there was 'considerable variability in weather patterns year on year', a trend had become evident in the Mena region. 'It's now clear that the region as a whole is warming fast, with an accelerated rate of 0.4°C per decade since the 1980s,' she said. Climate analysts in the UAE have said this year that summer in the country now lasts about 10 days longer than it used to. It is forecast in future to last for about half the year. 'What we are seeing is in line with our findings showing longer summers to be expected under global warming,' Dr Francis said. 'This shift in season duration can be exacerbated by a short heatwave induced by changes to the general circulation due to global warming. 'We have to wait and see if what we are witnessing currently in the UAE is a heatwave on top of the increase in global average temperatures due to excessive greenhouse gases.' Are other factors having an effect? A climatic effect called the Arabian Heat Low, typically experienced in summer, is partly responsible for the ultra-high temperatures in Sweihan, Dr Francis said. She said the ending in 2024 of El Nino, a warm period caused by changes to water circulation in the Pacific Ocean, had brought 'the level of rain in the UAE to almost zero in 2025'. 'With dry soil during the whole spring, like in the case of Sweihan, the development of the summer weather feature responsible for heat, called the Arabian Heat Low, came early this year,' she said. 'It is now well developed and in intensity resembles an AHL of a July month, not May, hence the temperatures are resembling July, too.' Feeling the heat in Sweihan Sweihan is no stranger to extreme heat, with the town having recorded a sweltering temperature of 51.8°C in June 2021. In response to the conditions, one long-time resident, Syrian citizen Tareef Otham, told The National at the time that being outside 'felt like I was inside an oven'. Being inland is one reason why Sweihan is especially likely to face extremes of temperature. Land heats up faster than the sea, so being further from the coast means that the Arabian Gulf has less of a moderating influence on the temperature. Coastal cities tend to be marginally cooler than those inland, although they can be more uncomfortable because of higher levels of humidity. By contrast, during the winter, inland areas are often cooler than coastal regions, because the sea is typically warmer than the land during colder times of the year, as it has not cooled down so fast. Are recent temperatures close to world records? While Sweihan has been facing temperatures that are very hot even for the Gulf region, the peaks remain significantly short of world beating. The highest temperature recorded on Earth was 56.7°C in Death Valley in the US on July 10, 1913, according to Guinness World Records. It states that some climatologists 'have cast doubt' on this result, although it remains the official record. In recent years, temperatures of 54.4°C have been recorded twice at the Furnace Creek Visitor Centre in Death Valley. A temperature of 58°C was recorded in Al Azizia in Libya in 1922, although that result was discredited by the World Meteorological Organisation in 2012. It said the figure may have been inflated because, for example, it was recorded near an asphalt-like surface that heats up faster than the desert soil.
The National
6 days ago
- Climate
- The National
As Sweihan swelters, what is causing the record high temperatures in the UAE?
The UAE is experiencing record breaking heat this month, with residents facing temperatures in excess of 50°C, according to the National Centre of Meteorology. Sweltering heat recorded in Sweihan recently at 51.6°C has smashed the record for the highest temperature in the month of May in the UAE, which was reported the previous day when it reached 50.4°C in Abu Dhabi emirate. Before then, the peak for the month was 50.2°C in 2009. The National Centre of Meteorology has in recent days reminded the public to drink lots of fluids, avoid direct exposure to the sun, ensure children are not left in cars and also to make sure pets have plenty to drink. Here, we look at the record temperatures and consider what factors could be behind them. Saturday was the second record-breaking day in a row, with the UAE having past its all-time record for May on Friday, when a temperature of 50.4°C was reached in Abu Dhabi. The extreme temperatures are more akin to what might be expected at the height of summer, which does not officially begin until June 21. Saturday's record was barely shy of the highest reported temperature for any time of year since records began more than two decades ago. That peak was set in Al Yasat Island in Abu Dhabi emirate in 2010, when thermometers reached a sizzling 52°C. This month's record temperatures come hot on the heels of the UAE recording its warmest April, with the average high last month being 42.6°C. 'The new thing about these conditions is that they are happening really too early, before even the official start of the summer season. The second element is how extreme they are compared to the record,' said Dr Diana Francis, an assistant professor and head of the Environmental and Geophysical Sciences (Engeos) lab at Khalifa University. Climate change may be playing a role in both the UAE's record temperatures as well as the region's escalating weather, especially given that previous research has indicated the gulf is heating up especially quickly. Campaign group Greenpeace MENA is drawing awareness to the issue, after temperatures in Kuwait remained close to 50°C throughout the week, Morocco issued an official heatwave alert for several provinces, and Iraq and Egypt grappled with an intense increase in temperature. "These conditions are no longer rare; they are the new normal in a region heating at nearly twice the global average. These extreme temperatures have arrived earlier than ever, as Hajj season is about to start," said regional campaigns lead, Kenzie Azmi. "Even though our region is not historically responsible for the problem, we are among those suffering the most." In 2022, Greenpeace published a report, Living on the Edge: The Implications of Climate Change for Six Countries in the Middle East and North Africa Region, which stated temperatures were 'warming nearly twice as fast as the global average'. At the time the report was released, Kathryn Miller, a science consultant for Greenpeace Research Laboratories, said that, while there was 'considerable variability in weather patterns year on year', a trend had become evident in the Mena region. 'It's now clear that the region as a whole is warming fast, with an accelerated rate of 0.4°C per decade since the 1980s,' she said. Climate analysts in the UAE have said this year that summer in the country now lasts about 10 days longer than it used to. It is forecast in future to last for about half the year. 'What we are seeing is in line with our findings showing longer summers to be expected under global warming,' Dr Francis said. 'This shift in season duration can be exacerbated by a short heatwave induced by changes to the general circulation due to global warming. 'We have to wait and see if what we are witnessing currently in the UAE is a heatwave on top of the increase in global average temperatures due to excessive greenhouse gases.' A climatic effect called the Arabian Heat Low, typically experienced in summer, is partly responsible for the ultra-high temperatures in Sweihan, Dr Francis said. She said the ending in 2024 of El Nino, a warm period caused by changes to water circulation in the Pacific Ocean, had brought 'the level of rain in the UAE to almost zero in 2025'. 'With dry soil during the whole spring, like in the case of Sweihan, the development of the summer weather feature responsible for heat, called the Arabian Heat Low, came early this year,' she said. 'It is now well developed and in intensity resembles an AHL of a July month, not May, hence the temperatures are resembling July, too.' Sweihan is no stranger to extreme heat, with the town having recorded a sweltering temperature of 51.8°C in June 2021. In response to the conditions, one long-time resident, Syrian citizen Tareef Otham, told The National at the time that being outside 'felt like I was inside an oven'. Being inland is one reason why Sweihan is especially likely to face extremes of temperature. Land heats up faster than the sea, so being further from the coast means that the Arabian Gulf has less of a moderating influence on the temperature. Coastal cities tend to be marginally cooler than those inland, although they can be more uncomfortable because of higher levels of humidity. By contrast, during the winter, inland areas are often cooler than coastal regions, because the sea is typically warmer than the land during colder times of the year, as it has not cooled down so fast. While Sweihan has been facing temperatures that are very hot even for the Gulf region, the peaks remain significantly short of world beating. The highest temperature recorded on Earth was 56.7°C in Death Valley in the US on July 10, 1913, according to Guinness World Records. It states that some climatologists 'have cast doubt' on this result, although it remains the official record. In recent years, temperatures of 54.4°C have been recorded twice at the Furnace Creek Visitor Centre in Death Valley. A temperature of 58°C was recorded in Al Azizia in Libya in 1922, although that result was discredited by the World Meteorological Organisation in 2012. It said the figure may have been inflated because, for example, it was recorded near an asphalt-like surface that heats up faster than the desert soil.
Khaleej Times
6 days ago
- Climate
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Cooler days ahead as temperatures dip after record-breaking heatwaves
After days of intense heat, residents across the UAE can look forward to some cooler days. A senior meteorologist has confirmed that temperatures will begin to dip by four to five degrees in the coming days, offering a welcome break from the severe heatwave that has gripped the country. The scorching conditions were caused by an internal low-pressure system from the south of the UAE, pushing hot desert air across the region. This past weekend saw temperatures soar to a staggering 51.6°C in Sweihan, Al Ain, marking the hottest May day ever recorded in the country since 2003. The previous record stood at 50.2°C in Al Shawamekh, Abu Dhabi, experienced in 2009. What caused the heatwave? Ahmed Habib, a meteorologist at the National Center of Meteorology (NCM), said the shift in weather is already underway. 'Over the past few days, we've been under the influence of an internal low-pressure system originating from the southern part of the UAE. It was accompanied by a very hot air mass moving from the desert into our region — particularly affecting the interior areas — before extending northward to the coastal regions,' he told Khaleej Times on Monday. Habib added, 'This has led to a heatwave caused by the extension of thermal low pressure from the desert towards our area. Starting today (Monday), however, this low-pressure system is expected to weaken and shift eastward. As a result, we are now beginning to feel the effects of northwesterly winds linked to a high-pressure system moving in from the north. This high-pressure system will gradually reduce temperatures, especially along the coast, with the western UAE seeing the earliest impact.' Residents in coastal and western parts of the country may have already noticed the difference, with temperatures dropping by 3°C to 4°C on Monday, with more good news ahead. 'On Tuesday, we expect a general drop in temperatures across the UAE, with a decrease of about 4-5°C,' Habib added. Rare events, not typical occurrences While 50°C-plus temperature is uncommon, Dr Habib said such extremes, though rare, do happen from time to time. 'As we know it happened around 2009… such extreme temperatures are typically linked to specific pressure systems and are considered exceptional rather than the norm. Fluctuations in temperature — rising and falling — are quite common and are not limited to the UAE. This pattern is observed across the Middle East, including in countries like Egypt and Jordan, where heatwaves are often followed by a noticeable drop in temperature, depending on the prevailing pressure systems.' But the weather rollercoaster isn't quite over yet. 'After Monday, temperatures will rise on Thursday, May 29, followed by a drop again. A further decrease in temperatures is expected on May 31 and June 1,' he said. This recent spell follows a record-breaking April, where the UAE logged its hottest April on record with an average daily high of 42.6°C, surpassing the previous high of 42.2°C in April 2017. As the country moves through the tail-end of spring, the unpredictable weather is expected to continue for a few more weeks. 'Spring in the Middle East typically continues until June 21-22. During this season, the weather is often unstable and shifts quickly, with occasional heatwaves, strong winds, or heavy rainfall. This contrasts with summer, when weather conditions tend to remain stable and consistent,' added Habib.
Times of Oman
25-05-2025
- Climate
- Times of Oman
UAE records new high of 51.6 degrees Celsius in May
Muscat: Temperatures in the UAE touched a sweltering 51.6 degrees Celsius at Sweihan in Al Ain on Saturday, according to the National Centre of Meteorology. This is a record for the country for this year so far. Just a few days back, on 23rd May, another record high of 50.4 degrees Celsius was recorded in the UAE.
The Australian
24-05-2025
- Climate
- The Australian
UAE hits record May temperature of 51.6C
The United Arab Emirates breached its May temperature record for the second day in a row, hitting 51.6 degrees Celsius on Saturday, within touching distance of the highest ever temperature recorded in the country. "The highest temperature recorded over the country today is 51.6C in Sweihan (Al Ain) at 13:45 UAE local time (0945 GMT)," the National Center of Meteorology said in a post on X, just 0.4C off the overall heat record in the Gulf country. The meteorology office told AFP the highest ever temperature recorded in the UAE since documentation began in 2003 was reported at 52C on Abu Dhabi's Al Yasat Island in 2010. The desert nation, a top global oil exporter, lies in one of the planet's hottest regions and one which is particularly vulnerable to climate change. The temperature in Sweihan -- which lies 97km (60 miles) west of Abu Dhabi -- and of 50.4C a day earlier in the Emirati capital exceeded the previous record for May of 50.2 Celsius recorded in 2009, according to the meteorology office. On Saturday in Dubai, where high temperatures in the mid-40 degrees Celsius were recorded, motorists complained air conditioning in their cars was struggling to stifle the sweltering heat, surprised the phenomenon had hit so early in the year. On the streets, Dubai inhabitants were still out and about -- some armed with parasols -- and vendors selling water and local juice bars appeared to enjoy an uptick in customers. The UAE, host of the COP28 climate talks in 2023, has just emerged from a record-breaking April with an average daily high of 42.6 degrees Celsius. - Extremely hot days - Scientists have shown that recurring heatwaves are a clear marker of global warming and that these heatwaves are set to become more frequent, longer and more intense. The number of extremely hot days has nearly doubled globally in the past three decades. Outdoor workers in Arab states face some of the highest exposure to heat stress in the world, with 83.6 percent suffering from excessive heat exposure on the job, according to a 2024 report from the International Labour Organization, a United Nations agency. The risks from a warming planet were on stark display last June, when more than 1,300 people died while performing the annual Muslim hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in neighbouring Saudi Arabia, according to an official tally -- most of them unauthorised pilgrims exposed to long periods outdoors. According to a 2022 Greenpeace study, the Middle East is at high risk of water and food scarcity as well as severe heat waves as a result of climate change. The report, which focused on six countries including the UAE, found the region was warming nearly twice as fast as the global average, making its food and water supplies "extremely vulnerable" to climate change. bur-csp/dcp
