Here’s an explainer from the UAE’s National Centre of Meteorology
Even as a Dubai resident for the last decade, I can’t help but feel like it’s never been this cold? And judging by my WhatsApp chats/ Facebook groups/ Instagram feed – I’m not the only one feeling the chill.
So, why is it so cold in Dubai right now?
In an interview with Khaleej Times, Dr Mohamed Al Ebri, Director of Meteorology at the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), explained that the UAE’s current cold spell isn’t an isolated event, but rather part of a global pattern.
One of the leading contributing factors to the recent drop in temperatures is something called the La Niña phenomenon.
A climate pattern driven by cooler-than-normal sea surface temperatures in parts of the Pacific Ocean, it impacts weather patterns globally – but particularly in the Northern Hemisphere, where weather systems typically move west to east.
Is this the coldest winter we’ve had?
Apparently not. Despite temperatures dipping to just 0.2°C in parts of the UAE this month, according to Dr Al Ebri, these are “not the coldest ever” temperatures seen in the UAE. In 2021, sub-zero temperatures were recorded in parts of the emirates.
The good news is, Dr Al Ebri forecasts that it’s not here to last.
After some light rainfall across the country yesterday, Sunday January 25, we can expect temperatures to start shifting, and while we can still expect some cold spells, more moderate warming periods are forecast to be heading our way.
Lead image: Unsplash
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