UAE Heat Wave: Countdown to Cooler Nights Starts August 24
The UAE’s hottest stretch of summer is approaching its final phase, with a key date in August marking the traditional start of cooler conditions. If you’ve been counting down the days until the UAE’s summer heat starts to ease, there’s some good news on the horizon. The traditional peak summer season, known as Marakhiyat Al Qalaid, begins on August 11 and runs until September 3. However, the big seasonal marker to look out for is August 24, when the Suhail star becomes visible before sunrise in the southeastern sky.
The appearance of the Suhail star has long been used across the Arabian Peninsula as a natural seasonal calendar. For generations, the appearance of Suhail has been seen as a sign that the UAE is beginning to move away from the peak of summer. After Suhail appears, temperatures are traditionally expected to gradually ease, while humidity can increase and early morning fog and cooler nights become more common, particularly in inland areas.
The traditional peak summer season may still bring some of the UAE’s most intense heat, as the ground and atmosphere continue to hold onto the heat built up throughout the summer. But with the Suhail star’s appearance on August 24, the countdown to cooler UAE weather is officially on. This marks an important turning point, as around 45 days after Suhail appears, day and night become almost equal in length, and winter is traditionally considered to begin around 100 days after the star’s appearance.
As the UAE moves away from the peak of summer, residents can expect a gradual shift towards cooler atmospheric conditions. While the exact date of the start of winter is not confirmed, the appearance of the Suhail star on August 24 is a significant indicator that the UAE is moving towards a cooler period. With this in mind, residents can start looking forward to cooler nights and a potential increase in humidity, particularly in inland areas.
