UAE shivers under extreme cold spell

UAE shivers under extreme cold spell

Team KT 8 January 2008

DUBAI — Gale force winds reached 40 knots offshore causing big swells and a shipwreck off Ajman while boats were warned not to leave the port, according to authorities.

Visibility was reduced to 600 metres in parts of the UAE as strong shamal winds whipped up sand and caused damage to some property, and in Dubai and the Northern Emirates light showers were experienced and a minimum of one degree Celsius was recorded in Ras Al Khaimah. Gale force offshore winds reached as high as 40 knots — 10 knots higher than expected — with sea swells higher than 14 feet, according to forecaster Amna Yasin at Dubai International Airport Meteorological Office. A ship coming from Iran was in regional waters and trying to enter one of UAE’s ports when it experienced a technical fault that shut down its engines and high waves and winds pushed it to Ajman’s shore.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Brigadier Salih Al Matroushi, Director-General of Ajman Civil Defence, said they received a call from a passerby who saw the ship floating at around 1.30pm. The ship was not carrying goods or passengers, but there were five crew members of Asian nationalities who were evacuated by the Civil Defence, Ajman Police’s rescue team and Coastguards with the help of small boats.

The crew members, who were in perfect health, were taken to the port immigration office where food and care was provided.

The ship was towed away by Civil Defence to Ajman Port for repairs.

To ensure public safety from rough weather conditions, the Abu Dhabi Marine Police started intercepting boats, launches and ships from venturing out too far yesterday.

Major Khaled Saeed Al Shamsi, head of Marine Police, told Khaleej Times the decision was taken due to bad weather. No distress calls or accidents had been reported in the four days up to Sunday, he added.

“We have deployed our patrols to block seafarers from venturing out to sea in four key exit port facilities at Mina Zayed, ships quay, free port and Bateen jetty,” he affirmed.

He warned against swimming or sailing even if the weather looked fine and clear during these days and weather forecasters also detailed that rough seas were expected over the next few days.

“Weather conditions in the sea could change dramatically at any time. The restrictions on venturing into the sea will remain in place until further notice, and after we make sure that the weather is stable,” he explained.

Forecaster Yasin said minor rainfall was experienced across Dubai and the Northern Emirates, although Dubai recordings were negligible, while Mohammed Abdullah Al Abri, forecaster at the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology said Abu Dhabi also received light showers early in morning yesterday.

Ras Al Khaimah, which experienced hail and heavy rain on Sunday, received light rainfall yesterday.

Ras Al Khaimah’s mountain ‘Jais’ recorded the lowest temperature in the UAE of one degree Celsius yesterday morning, according to Al Abri.

The Traffic Police recorded one motor accident in which an Emirati man was killed when he lost control of his vehicle in the hail and his vehicle skidded off the road rolling over several times in Wadi Galeelah.

A senior officer from the Ras Al Khaimah Department of Civil Defence said rain water flooded some houses and roads, especially in the Al Shaam area, but not much property was damaged.

In Fujairah, some minor traffic accidents took place, according to a senior police officer.

“The strong winds uprooted some trees and dropped some signboards in the Dibba area. However, no other damages were registered,” said Lt-Col. Obeid Al Teneiji, Director of the Civil Defence and Fire Department, in Fujairah.

Dubai Municipality officials said inspectors had been checking for damage from the strong winds across suburbs, rural areas and parks but people’s main concerns were heavy sand and dust.

“Till now, we have not received any information about the damages. But then the winds have caused a lot of dust to accumulate on the roads. This is causing problems for the motorists and other commuters,” said an inspector in the Bur Dubai area.

Authorities across the UAE urged the public to take caution in this weather, particularly on the roads and inform the police and the Civil Defence of any hazard resulting from unstable weather conditions or municipalities regarding damage

Al Abri expected Abu Dhabi’s weather to improve from tomorrow but the temperature today was anticipated to dip to 4-6 degrees Celsius in the morning and the day will remain cold, but clear.

Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah may experience light drizzles today and cloudy weather was expected to prevail across the UAE.

Dubai will continue to remain cool for the next few days with a minimum of 15 degrees and maximum of about 20 and the wind was expected to reach no more than 15 knots on land.

Meanwhile, fish prices have gone up by at least Dh5 as the catch of fish is less after the seas turned rough, according to Saif Ahmed Saif Al Suwaidi, treasurer at Abu Dhabi Fishermen Cooperative Society.