Release date: Monday, August 12, 2024 at 4:55 pm
Last updated: Tuesday, August 13, 2024, 5:55 p.m.
As the UAE’s hot summer draws to a close, all eyes are turning to the horizon, eagerly awaiting the appearance of Star Suhail. Expected to occur within the next two weeks, the celestial phenomenon will signal the transition from the peak of the summer heat to milder days ahead.
Midsummer is coming to an end, but temperatures aren’t dropping anytime soon.
Arabs say, “When Suhail rises, the nights will be cool,” signifying the gradual drop in night-time temperatures and the first signs of a change in the weather.
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Ibrahim Al Jarwan, president of the UAE Astronomical Society, noted that Suhail will be visible for the first time at dawn from August 24, marking the start of a major climate change.
Following Suhail’s rise, the region will experience around 40 days of transitional weather known as “Suhuriya”, which is characterised by fluctuating weather conditions bridging the gap between harsh summer and the onset of cooler temperatures.
The Wasm season then begins from mid-October, the weather gradually stabilises and winter begins about 100 days after the rising of Suhail.
The onset of Suhail also marks the retreat of the Indian monsoon, which weakens and moves southwards. This period is marked by the arrival of the “Koos” winds, which increase humidity and form low-lying clouds.
These clouds may produce weak drizzle, known locally as “Khus” clouds, especially along the eastern slopes of the Hajar Mountains in Oman and the UAE.
Known as the “Star of Yemen”, Suhail holds an important place in Arab tradition, as its appearance coincides with the unique “Durul” calendar, which divides the year into distinct periods of 100 days each.
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