The UAE is gearing up for more rain and cooler weather as the countdown to winter officially begins. Starting October 21, increased cloud cover is expected to bring showers to the eastern and southern regions of the country, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).
“Clouds will form over scattered areas from Monday onwards, with chances of rainfall, particularly in mountainous and southeastern parts of the UAE,” said Dr. Ahmed Habib, NCM meteorologist, in an interview with Khaleej Times. “This is part of the seasonal shift as the country transitions from the summer heat to cooler conditions.”
Over the past week, residents across several emirates — including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah — have already witnessed bouts of rain, gusty winds, and noticeably cooler temperatures. Some communities have even started planning Diwali celebrations around the expected showers.
The NCM attributed the changing weather to the interaction between a surface low-pressure system and an upper-air trough, which together have boosted humidity levels and cloud formation. “A low-pressure system from the Arabian Sea began influencing our region about a week ago, bringing higher humidity and clouds, especially during the morning hours,” Dr. Habib explained. “Such conditions often lead to rainfall, sometimes heavy, over mountainous and southeastern areas.”
On Sunday, the highest temperature recorded was 39.3°C in Al Shawamekh, Abu Dhabi, while Ras Al Khaimah’s mountain areas dipped to a low of 18.1°C — a clear sign of the season’s shift.
Convective clouds have been reported over Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, Dubai, Al Ain, and Abu Dhabi. Depending on their intensity, these clouds can bring varying levels of rainfall and occasionally even hail, Dr. Habib added. “This kind of weather fluctuation is typical during the transition between summer and winter.”
The UAE’s Expo area in Dubai also saw moderate to heavy rainfall last week, and more scattered showers are expected next week as atmospheric instability persists.
Dr. Habib noted that residual effects from a tropical storm in the Arabian Sea, combined with shifting northwesterly and easterly winds, are contributing to the unsettled conditions.
“Although winter officially begins on December 21, we are already observing early signs — cooler mornings, cloudy afternoons, and more moderate nighttime temperatures,” he said. “The NCM continues cloud-seeding operations whenever suitable convective clouds are present to enhance rainfall.”
