Hot desert winds send temperatures rising

By Daniel Bardsley, Staff Reporter


Dubai: Hot desert winds in recent days have sent temperatures soaring close to record levels for February.

Forecasters have however said the sweltering early year weather is due to normal fluctuations and is unlikely to be the result of global warming.

And they have given warning that the hot weather is set to end as soon as tomorrow when the wind direction is likely to change.

On Thursday in Dubai the mercury climbed to 35.2C less than one degree shy of February's all-time record in the city of 36.0C.

The hot weather this week compares to the average maximum temperature for February of just 25.2C.

Hamad Nasser, a duty forecaster at Dubai International Airport, said the warm weather was caused by easterly and south-easterly winds that brought in desert air.

He added: "We are expecting the Shamal wind to blow from Sunday. This is a cooler north-westerly from the sea. It will be comfortable."

Nasser said the effect of genuine seasonal heating was not likely to be felt before March.

He also said it was unlikely that the hot weather of recent days has been caused by global warming.

"I think it's normal fluctuations. I don't think it's global warming," he said.

Yesterday was also hot for the time of year, with temperatures climbing to a maximum of 32.7C. The minimum yesterday was 21.5C.

Forecast

Today temperatures are forecast to rise to 31C, with the minimum temperature predicted to be 20C.

There have been many examples of hotter-than-average weather in recent months, with Dubai experiencing its hottest ever October Day last year when the mercury climbed to a sizzling 42.4C.

In September 2005 a temperature of 44.9C was recorded the highest September figure for more than 30 years. And a month earlier 2005 Dubai experienced its hottest day for six years with a sweltering 47.3C.