Spring may be associated with pleasant temperatures and slightly longer days. But so far it has been a case of dusty skies, dirty cars and a rather unsettled transition period between the seasons. Residents in Abu Dhabi this morning were woken by thunder and by 9.30am the city was blanketed by a low dust cloud amid high winds. The dust was still lingering in the capital well into the afternoon. Rain also fell in Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Sharjah, while the National Centre of Meteorology satellite map showed heavy showers dotted throughout the country during the morning. Forecasters warned thundery rain would persist throughout the day, with 60kph winds cutting visibility to 1,500 metres. It added that waves in the Arabian Gulf could reach 2.7 metres. Despite the cloud cover, temperatures are expected to reach 32°C in Abu Dhabi and 30°C in Dubai. The Emirates was lashed by heavy rain and thunderstorms last week <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/uae/environment/heavy-rain-warning-and-instructions-issued-by-ministry-of-interior-1.838195">leading to the Ministry of Interior to warn people in rural areas</a> to stay away from places that could be treacherous during heavy rain. Sections of an old six-storey residential building in Ras Al Khaimah <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/uae/environment/heavy-rain-forces-evacuation-of-residential-block-as-debris-sent-flying-1.838086">broke off in chunks</a> after heavy downpours. The UAE winter was noticeably colder this year, with temperatures falling as low as 8°C some nights. This was due to northwesterly winds originating in the Mediterranean. Forecasters say the third week of March is usually the beginning of the transition period from winter to summer and it is a period that brings unstable conditions. Temperatures in April tend to reach about 37°C and then 40°C come May.
