Foggy And Cold Friday In Dubai

I'm not sure what's going in with the weather in Dubai but it has been foggy for the past 4 days. Few weeks ago, I posted about how hot it was during this year's winter. Well, I think winter came very late in our region.

I woke up in the morning to see thick fog covering our area. The temperature is 13 degrees Celcius at the moment. No wonder I am feeling a bit chilly because I left the window slightly ajar. I have taken some snaps from the veranda and the last shot was to include the sun but the fog is so think. I feel sorry for the delayed and diverted flights now because the have to land somewhere else and wait it out.

This is what I see in the morning from our 6th floor balcony at 8:50.






Drive safely everyone and buckle and bundle up. It's quite cold outside.

Scary Fog In Dubai Yesterday

The fog has arrived and yesterday was one of the many more fogs we will encounter here in Dubai. Yesterday's fog was scary because it was dense and descended so fast. I peeped through our bedroom window to see only flicker of lights from vehicles and the street lamps. And 5 minutes after, the fog was thick, very misty and very dangerous.

The news today warned the public of the many more fog encounters we will have these coming days because the weather is changing. We are slowly easing into fall.

Driving in a very dense fog is treacherous. Plenty of motorists decided to stay home and waited it out while others pulled on the shoulder and the side of the road for safety. Others decided to skip work or school while others drove slowly than ever because you couldn't see the curb nor the pavement on the thick fog yesterday. Even flights were diverted and delayed. That one fog which lasted for several hours in the morning caused mayhem both on the ground and off!

So if you happen to drive into another fog in the coming days, please remember to practice caution. Do not, I repeat, do not ever use hazard lights as motorists behind will not be able to anticipate your sudden change of lane or stop. Use the fog lights and maintain a low beam. Using a high beam can reflect more light to tiny moisture and can cause more visibility issues. Also, drive slowly and maintain a safe distance of about 2-3 cars apart. Be patient as everyone else is hoping and praying to get to their destinations safely and in one piece.

Driving Safely in Foggy Condition

I am not used to drive in foggy conditions. It is a common occurrence here in the UAE especially when the season is changing. We are used to the weather but navigating through main thoroughfares with other motorists who have no consideration to other human lives is another story.

Fog is a thick cloud bank that lies low in the ground. Visibility can be affected and most and if the fog is very thick, then you can expect a zero visibility. This condition is the scariest for motorists because you don't know if there is a vehicle in front of you and if it is slowing down or not.

Here are tips to drive safely in foggy condition:

• Check weather conditions and be aware so you can prepare in advance.
• Use your fog lights if it is installed in your vehicle. Is you live in a place where foggy condition is common, install fog lights in your vehicle.
• Do not drift in the middle of the line and stay in line as much as possible. Use your right side as a guide.
• If you are driving with someone else, please ask the help of your passenger to watch out for any oncoming traffic.
• Keep a safe distance. One full length of a car is normally the safe distance between 2 vehicles. However, in foggy weather, allow at least 2 full length of car distance.
• Do not speed up. It is difficult to know if the vehicle in front of you is slowing down if the fog is thick.
• Keep your defroster and wiper on if necessary because the moisture in the air can collect on your windshield making driving more difficult.
• Pull over to the side of the road if the visibility is zero. Better yet, let the fog settle and it normally clears mid-morning. If you can afford to skip work for few hours then do so. I would rather be late than sorry.

Here Comes Autumn!!!

The past week has been slightly breezy in the morning except on some occasions.  I woke up at 5:30 a.m. today and went to church. It was humid and foggy at the same time making it difficult to drive. 

I know that with the weather changes happening soon, autumn is just around the corner giving all of us here in the Mid-East region a preview of what to come. Hopefully, not regular fogs because people drive crazy here.

With all my heart, welcome Autumn. Cool weather... I LIKE!

Foggy Friday

*Note: I should have posted this earlier but due to some unexplainable mood swings, I have been out of touch for a while. Must be the hormones...hahaha ;)

The week moved ever so slowly like a sloth climbing a tree. I thought it would never end - the waiting for weekend, that is.

The weather is still pleasant and not as cold as the previous days. However, the chilly wind blowing to your face still bites. I had to wake up early today for my HTML class while the rest of the household were happily snoring their blues away. I wanted to linger in bed and pull the comforter to my face as I planned to continue my broken slumber due to the pesky alarm clock which my daughter (for some reason, she has this habit of rousing me from my wonderful slumber at 4 a.m.!) set on an ungodly hour. Well, I might as well drag myself to class even if my mind was still set to sleep. I know it was still early, the chilly wind blew crisply on my face and brrrr... I woke up to a foggy Friday. Thank God for a foggy Friday! At least it's weekend... ;)




(Photo: my own, taken from the balcony - 6th floor - 30 January 2009)