Muscat: Hailstorms and medium to heavy rainfall lashed the northern parts of Oman on Friday afternoon.
The provinces of Ibri, Yanqul, Dhank were hit by a heavy hailstorm which lasted for more than two hours. Minor damages were reported.
Residents welcomed the rainfall as a respite from the sweltering heat and rise in temperatures.
Ibri resident Shihab Al Hatmi told Gulf News that he went outside to enjoy the rain with his friends.
Ahmad Al Alawi, a resident of Yanqul, said his village was covered with pieces of hail.
“The children went outside to play, throwing ice at each other,” he said.
The provinces of Rustq, Dima wa Tayeen and Ibra also witnessed medium rainfall which flooded some of the nearby wadis and led to the closing of some roads.
The provinces of Bahla and Nizwa witnessed light rainfall.
No casualties were reported, according to the Public Authority for Civil Defense and Ambulance (PACDA).
More rain is expected in the northern part of Oman’s Hajar mountain range, according to Oman’s meteorology centre.
The Royal Oman Police (ROP) are advising residents to take extra precaution during the rains.
Meanwhile, temperatures in Muscat and Seeb were hovering between 39 and 40 degrees Celsius on Friday.
