Summer in UAE (especially August)
Sandstorms add to summer woes in RAK
By Sadiq A. Salam 30 July 2006
RAS AL KHAIMAH — Heavy sandstorms engulfed Ras Al Khaimah yesterday and were compounded by a remarkable rise in temperature and humidity levels.
The thick dust blanket reduced visibility in streets and public areas but did not hamper traffic flow or operations at the RAK International Airport (RIA). Motorists on Emirates Ring Road, however, complained of hazy conditions affecting visibility. No traffic accident was reported though.
A weatherman at RIA reported that visibility had been reduced to 1,500 metres because of the dust swirls. "This has not affected airport operations since we left it to aviation companies to proceed with operations," he added. Two cargo flights landed safely and took-off again from the airport, he said.
Weathermen said the maximum temperature yesterday was 46.5C as against a minimum of 34C, with humidity recorded at 49 per cent. Hospitals across the emirate attended to nearly 10 cases of heatstroke, almost all the victims being construction labourers working in the open.
Hospital sources said that 5-10 heatstroke victims, mostly construction workers, had been coming in daily since the onset of summer. Over 25 persons had been hospitalised in a single day last week, it may be recalled. The RAK Labour Department recently announced that 34 construction companies had been caught forcing labourers to work in the afternoon sun, in violation of the country's labour laws. Some of the companies at fault were asked to cough up hefty fines, while the others were left off with stern warnings, he added.
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Note: But someone in the city reported 52C to me.
By Sadiq A. Salam 30 July 2006
RAS AL KHAIMAH — Heavy sandstorms engulfed Ras Al Khaimah yesterday and were compounded by a remarkable rise in temperature and humidity levels.
The thick dust blanket reduced visibility in streets and public areas but did not hamper traffic flow or operations at the RAK International Airport (RIA). Motorists on Emirates Ring Road, however, complained of hazy conditions affecting visibility. No traffic accident was reported though.
A weatherman at RIA reported that visibility had been reduced to 1,500 metres because of the dust swirls. "This has not affected airport operations since we left it to aviation companies to proceed with operations," he added. Two cargo flights landed safely and took-off again from the airport, he said.
Weathermen said the maximum temperature yesterday was 46.5C as against a minimum of 34C, with humidity recorded at 49 per cent. Hospitals across the emirate attended to nearly 10 cases of heatstroke, almost all the victims being construction labourers working in the open.
Hospital sources said that 5-10 heatstroke victims, mostly construction workers, had been coming in daily since the onset of summer. Over 25 persons had been hospitalised in a single day last week, it may be recalled. The RAK Labour Department recently announced that 34 construction companies had been caught forcing labourers to work in the afternoon sun, in violation of the country's labour laws. Some of the companies at fault were asked to cough up hefty fines, while the others were left off with stern warnings, he added.
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Note: But someone in the city reported 52C to me.
posted by Sand Land Dad at 10:52
4 Comments:
I am sure it would be over 50C in the city...add concrete and less breeze(as in furnace blast).Ugh!
I think I will go walk on my green grass and pick some more raspberries for breakfast!
It was 50 degrees in Bilbao the other day. Yay for climate shift!
I could complain about the humidity here...but after reading that, I suppose there's no reason to.
I do not feel entitled to complain about the weather here anymore... though it is beautiful today 25C and a crisp cool breeze. Ya for the Pacific Northwest.
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