Abu Dhabi weather: rain clears to sunny skies for Pope's Mass

Worshippers who boarded the first buses to Zayed Sports City endure lows of 14°C overnight during their long wait for Mass

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Rain clouds which hovered over the country over the past two days cleared in time for the Pope's first Mass in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday morning, leaving a sunny, if chilly, start to the historic day.

Worshippers who boarded the first buses had to endure lows of 14°C overnight during their long wait for the Pope, with many donning heavy jackets and scarves to keep warm.

Partly cloudy skies cleared before the Mass at 10.30am, with temperatures reaching a high of 23°C in the capital at lunchtime. It will be slightly warmer inland, with a high of 26°C expected.

Humidity will be high, hovering between 65 per cent and 85 per cent on the coast. Winds will generally be light, picking up at times.

The sea will be rough in both the Arabian Gulf and Sea of Oman.

The more settled weather comes after days of rain, which resulted in flooding in parts of the northern emirates.

Rain could return on Wednesday however, particularly in the east, and it will be a cold start to the day, with partly cloudy skies, becoming hazy at times, according to forecasters.

Winds will be moderate to fresh, blowing dust over exposed areas, which could hang in the air at times.

Zayed Sports City on Tuesday. Liz Cookman / The National
Zayed Sports City on Tuesday. Liz Cookman / The National