Gulf | Oman
Oman prepares for another cyclone
Oman is bracing for possibility of another tropical cyclone.
- By Sunil K. Vaidya, Bureau Chief
- Published: 15:42 October 30, 2007
- The storm is likely to hit southern Oman, bringing heavy thunder and rains.
- Image Credit: US Navy satellite image
Muscat: Oman is bracing itself for the possibility of another tropical cyclone but this time it could be of a lesser intensity and hit the south of the country, according to a forecast by the Meteorological Department on Monday.
In June this year tropical Cyclone Gonu struck Oman's eastern coast, Muscat and the northern parts of the country, causing extensive damage and loss of lives, particularly due to flooding that followed torrential rain for three days. The winds then reached over 70 knots.
In this cyclone, currently unnamed and known as tropical cyclone 05a, meteorological officials expect winds to reach around 40 knots.
Flooding
"At the moment the storm has winds of around 25 knots," Ahmad Saeed Nasser of the Meteorological Department in Dhofar Governorate told Gulf News from Salalah.
"The low pressure system located over the Arabian Sea has formed into a storm and could hit the southern Omani coast around Thursday," he added.
He said the low pressure over the Arabian Sea was now centred approximately 850km away from Sadah in Dhofar Governorate.
"The storm is expected to bring with it thunder, heavy rain and subsequent flooding in the Dhofar region," he said.
He said the meteorological department had already sent forecast reports to the relevant authorities and preparations were being made to deal with heavy rain and flooding in the Dhofar region.
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We sure are paying a heavy price as a result of our indifference to global warming.
This cyclone will affect Yemen and Oman; the UAE will hardly be affected.
Bhaskaran
Dubai,UAE
Posted: October 31, 2007, 07:45
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