How I wonder what in the world is going on...........here in Dubai.
In late January and February 2008, we have had rainy weather, sandstorms in, and earthquakes near Dubai.
Earthquake jolts Fujairah, but no damage reported
By Fuad AliStaff ReporterPublished: February 02, 2008, 19:45
Fujairah: An earthquake measuring 3.4 on the Richter scale hit Dibba Al Fujairah early on Saturday morning.
However, no injuries or damage to property was reported, as the tremors felt were mild, residents and officials say. The quake was reported by some residents at 5.44 am.
Lieutenant Colonel Ali Obaid Al Tunaiji, Director of Fujairah Civil Defence, told Gulf News there were no reports of injuries or property damage.
"We received calls from a number of residents informing us of the tremor but there were no calls for units to be dispatched to any location," said Lt Col Al Tunaiji.
Dibba resident Ali Mohammad Abdullah was on his way to perform morning prayers when he felt the ground move under him.
The tremor comes in the wake of the strong winds which caused widespread property damage on Friday, according to the Director of Fujairah Civil Defence.
According to a statement by the National Meteorology and Seismology Centre, the quake was light and no casualties or damage was reported.
The tremor was strongly felt in Dibba Al Fujairah only and was not felt by citizens in other areas, because it was a minor one, the statement said.
Meanwhile, an earthquake measuring 5 on the Richter scale hit the Arabian Gulf region at 9.33am on Saturday. It was felt in Qatar only, and some coastal areas in the UAE.
Series of quakes hits northern emirates
By Nasouh Nazzal, Fuad Ali and Rayeesa Absal, Staff ReportersPublished: February 03, 2008, 13:13
Ras Al Khaimah/Abu Dhabi/Fujairah/Al Ain: A series of tremors hit Ras Al Khaimah on Sunday and forced authorities to evacuate more than 800 students from two schools.
The quakes hit the Masafi area at 8.45am, 10.30am and noon, which prompted Ras Al Khaimah's Education Zone officials to order the evacuation of more than 400 students each from Masafi Secondary School and Abdullah bin Omar Elementary School. The decision came after the walls and ceilings of the schools developed major cracks.
The National Center of Meteorology and Seismology at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs said mild tremors hit Al Ain and the northern emirates early on Sunday as well. The centre has dispatched a five-member team to the Eastern Region to survey the seismic activity.
The first earthquake measured 4.4 on the Richter Scale and had its epicentre in the Gulf of Oman, 140km from Al Ain. The second and third quakes measuring 3.2 and 2.57 on the scale hit northern Fujairah at 1:25am and 3:24am, and a fourth quake measuring 3.2 hit Qeshm Island in Iran at 8.30am.
Residents in Ras Al Khaimah ran into the streets for awhile. Some of them have demanded compensation for damages.
Two light tremors jolt Masafi but cause no damage
By Fuad Ali, Staff ReporterPublished: February 09, 2008, 21:59
Fujairah: Two light tremors hit Masafi again on Friday evening.
The first occurred at 8.05pm local time and the second occurred about 30 minutes later, according to the national meteorology and earthquake centre.
The centre said the two tremors, each measuring 2.8 on the Richter scale, did not cause any damage, although both were felt by residents as the epicentre was less than 2km below the earth's surface.
Evening rumbleMasafi residents said the tremors were light and caused no damage.
Rashid Ali, a Masafi resident, said: "Just after eight, Friday evening, I felt the earth shake and straight away I realised we're having another earthquake. "We have had a few over the last week so people were not scared and thankfully it was another mild one and nothing was damaged."
The tremors are the latest in a mild series hitting the East Coast in the last 10 days.
Although tremors have been reported from Dibba and Fujairah city, among others, Masafi appears to experience most of the tectonic activity.
Last Saturday and Sunday, Masafi residents felt several tremors which forced the closure of two schools and a nursery for 24 hours.
There were reports of some damage to buildings, including some houses, though most of it, officials said, are not threatening to structures.
Agony continues as relentless rain floods the roads
By Bassma Al Jandaly, Sunita Menon and Wafa Issa, Staff ReportersLast updated: January 15, 2008, 23:56
Dubai/Sharjah: Motorists had another agonising day on the roads as heavy rains flooded most of the busy streets while some areas became small ponds trapping drivers who drove through.
Most arterial roads were clogged with vehicles, which moved bumper to bumper.
Things were even worse on Al Fahidi Street which was flooded until Al Shababna Roundabout. Prakash Guha a resident of Al Fahidi Street, said it took him two-and-a-half hours to reach his office on Shaikh Zayed Road. Motorists coming from Sharjah were caught off-guard by flooding in the area just before Al Garhoud Bridge.
In many areas of Sharjah traffic came to a standstill as police tried desperately to clear the gridlock. The hardest hit was Al Khan, which was knee-high in water, the Clock Tower Roundabout on Al Zahra Road, King Faisal Street and King Abdul Aziz road, motorists said.
Many people living in the Crystal Plaza building on the Buheira Corniche had to evacuate their apartments as water had seeped through the ceiling.
Ajman was also hit hard with most major roads such as Al Nuaimi, Al Bustan, Al Karama and the Industrial Area becoming slippery, muddy lakes.
"Municipal staff are working hard to clear the water off the streets," said Colonel Ali Abdullah Alwan, Chief of Ajman Police.
No major traffic accidents were reported from Ajman.
"We advise people to drive carefully during the rain,"said the Ajman police chief.
Traffic was very slow from Ajman and Sharjah yesterday as people tried to get to work. At the National Paints Roundabout on Emirates Road traffic came to a standstill. Construction work at many sites came to a halt because of the windy weather.
Schools closed in Dubai, Sharjah and northern emirates
WAMLast updated: January 15, 2008, 23:49
Dubai: The UAE Ministry of Education decided to put off both private and government schools on Wednesday and Thursday due to the expected weather conditions, in Dubai, Sharjah and all northern emirates. Schools are to re-open again on Sunday morning.
Abdullah Mussabah, Ministry of Education CEO, also said that schools are to be open on Wednesday and Thursday as usual in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western region.
Temperature dips to record low in the country
By Binsal Abdul Kader, Staff Reporter Published: January 23, 2008, 16:57Abu Dhabi: The record for minimum temperatures in the country was broken this month during the rain, said weathermen.
Rekna in Al Ain broke the record of the lowest temperature, which recorded -1 degree celsius in January 2008, the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) in Abu Dhabi said in a statement issued to Gulf News. Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah recorded about -1C in December 2004.
The lowest temperature during the last season was also recorded in Jebel Al Jais at -0.3C, said NCMS.
Dhudna in Fujairah received the highest amount of rainfall at 133.2 millimetres during the last week.
The centre said that the rainy weather could continue for some time.
Weathermen attributed the variation in weather to "troughs of low pressure which usually pass over the area during the winter time."
Foggy conditions will continue
Staff ReportPublished: February 17, 2008, 21:57
Abu Dhabi: Conditions will continue to be foggy on Tuesday, but visibility should improve, the Met office has said. "Patches of fog are expected, especially in the western and coastal areas of the country," said a spokesperson of the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS), in Abu Dhabi. There is no possibility of rain.
The lowest temperature of 11.5 degrees Celsius was recorded at Al Rekna in Al Ain. Other parts of Al Ain recorded 14 degrees.
Motorists struggle as thick fog envelops country
By Binsal Abdul Kader, Staff Reporter Published: February 17, 2008, 11:17
Abu Dhabi: Thick fog enveloped the country on Sunday, reducing visibility and making driving a tricky task. The morning fog slowed down traffic in most parts of the country. The fog is due to a high pressure on the upper air and moisture coming from northwest, said weathermen. "Thick fog is expected on Monday morning also," said a spokesperson of National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) in Abu Dhabi. Visibility dipped to 100 meters in Ras Al Khaimah in the morning from the normal 10,000 meters. In western interior parts of Abu Dhabi like Bada Zayed and Liwa, visibility was reduced to less than 200 meters and Sharjah recorded 300 meters. The situation was comparatively better in Dubai with visibility of about 2,000 meters. The lowest temperature of 11.5 degree Celsius was recorded at Al Rekna in Al Ain. Other parts of Al Ain recorded 14 degree. The highest temperature, 20 degree Celsius, was recorded in Fujairah. Dubai recorded 17 degree Celsius, Abu Dhabi 16, Ras Al Khaimah 16 and Sharjah 15 degree. Weathermen predict a sunny day, ruling out the possibility of rain, but patches of clouds will remain over northern, eastern and mountainous areas of the country. Wind will slow down gradually and will shift to north easterly and easterly during day time, said the spokesperson of the NCMS. Motorists cautioned as dust storms expected to hit country after fog
By Mahmood Saberi, Senior Reporter Published: February 18, 2008, 14:26
Dubai: Very strong Shammal winds with speed of over 45 kmp/h will hit the country on Wednesday whipping up dust, according to the Dubai Meteorological office. The winds will bring down temperature by three to four degrees to about 24 degrees Celsius. The unsettled weather will continue till Friday morning when it will start to clear up. Motorists should be on the alert early on Tuesday morning as there is still a chance of fog. On Monday morning, thick fog shrouded the emirates, bringing visibility down to 100 meters.
The fog descended over Dubai at around 3.30am and only dissipated by 8.30am. Schoolchildren waiting for their early morning bus looked like ghostly figures. The fog delayed flights in Abu Dhabi. Residents in the capital should also be on alert for possible early morning fog on Tuesday, according to the National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology. Unlike Monday, the fog is likely to stay on from 3am to 9am on Tuesday. "Fog is not unusual this time of the year," said Dr S.K. Gupta, duty forecaster Dubai Meteorological office, noting that Dubai had once experienced fog for six consecutive days. Fog occurs when there is very light wind, absolute clear skies, high humidity and cold nights. On Wednesday, the sea will be very rough and a marine warning will go out to boatmen, according to the Dubai weatherman. The winds offshore will be between 25 to 30 knots, the maximum being over 55 kmp/h.
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