Early warning system for sea conditions

Dubai has launched an early warning system to forecast bad sea conditions to help prevent drowning of beachgoers and swimmers. Surfers, swimmers and beachgoers can now get free email and SMS alerts about rough sea conditions three days in advance with the new “marine forecasting and warning system for Dubai coastal zone” from the Dubai Municipality. More than a dozen people drowned at Dubai beaches last year and most of the accidents happened during bad weather conditions. Announcing the launch of the system on Tuesday, Assistant Director-General of Health, Safety and Environment Monitoring Sector at the municipality Salem bin Mesmar said the system is the first of its kind in the region which is capable to forecast the sea conditions accurately and help the swimmers, fishermen, sea transport and marine companies as well as beachgoers. The forecasting system provides information on waves, current, surface elevation, wind, oil spill and inundation along the Dubai coastline and the Arabian Gulf, said Hind Mahmoud, head of Design and Coastal Monitoring Unit. She said people can logon to www.dubaicoast.ae for live marine weather updates and register for free email and SMS alerts about bad weather conditions. Red flags will notify them on adverse swimming conditions at specific beaches. “We can advise them about whether it is safe to go for swimming or any sport. Police and lifeguards can also be prepared for the bad weather conditions ?and warn beachgoers and swimmers.” Swimming warning can be issued for all public beaches as it covers the entire coastal areas, near shore and offshore areas in Dubai. The municipality’s system that is expected to prevent cases of drowning and marine accidents will link the Dubai Police, Roads and Transport Authority, Coast Guards and other relevant authorities engaged in safety and rescue operations. These entities will also be warned about any oil spill in the open sea. “Depending on the current and wind, the system can predict how and where the oil spill will be affecting so that authorities can take measures to control it,” said Mahmoud. Alya Abdulrahim Alharmoudi, Head of the Coastal Area Management of the Environment Department, said the system can cover a wide area that includes the entire Arabian Gulf from the north-west of Kuwait to south-east of Oman. George Hughes of Surf Dubai welcomed the new system that will also help surfers to know wind speed and strong waves. “We used to look for the wind report from Qatar to know what to look for in Dubai earlier. It is good if we can get the information locally,” he said.