A period of unsettled wet weather is expected, as clouds will build across the emirates later this week, forecasters have said. A long-term forecast by the National Centre for Meteorology suggests some coastal areas will receive rain from Tuesday. It will be partly cloudy with the chance of rain over coastal regions and northern areas on Tuesday. Winds are expected to reach speeds of 40 kilometres an hour. While that will bring the inevitable blowing dust and sand, the showers will help to settle dust particles in the air, forecasters said. After weeks of fog that saw dramatic social media posts of high-rise buildings enveloped in cloud, this week promises a change in scene for much of the UAE. The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority has issued its annual warning for households to prepare their homes for the few weeks of the year when rain is expected. Advice includes sealing all exposed electrical connections on roofs and gardens and closing electric cabinets and meter windows. While average rainfall in the country may only reach about 100 millimetres a year, cloud seeding operations during February and March can enhance rainfall and top up dwindling groundwater resources. Patchy rain is also likely on Wednesday and into Thursday morning, as temperatures drop slightly and humidity falls. Despite the forecast for rain, most of the country will also see plenty of sunshine this week.
