Storm weakens over Oman seas

Muscat: The threat of severe bad weather over Oman's southern coast eased as cyclonic storm continued to weaken and was downgraded to a tropical depression.

Wind speed in the open waters dropped down to less than 25 knots in the early hours of Thursday, weather reports in Muscat stated.

The latest satellite images and numerical weather prediction charts continue to indicate a deep depression over the Arabian Sea centered at 14.2 latitude north and 60.6 longitudes east, said Oman's Meteorological Department in a statement issued here.

The low pressure system has moved in a westerly to north-westerly direction towards the Gulf of Aden and its centre was approximately 600 km away from the Dhofar coast, the statement noted. Currently, the depression is traveling at 16 knots per hour.

However, the mass of clouds has reached closer to the shore at around 300 km distance, as reported by the Met department.

Tthe cloud band from the depression is expected to deliver moderate to heavy rains accompanied by winds in Ras Madraka of Dhofar region during the next 36 hours.

Shaikh Mohammed Bin Marhoon Al Maamari, Minister of State and Governor of Dhofar, held a meeting to discuss the preparedness for a possible impact on Dhofar region in the wake of the current deep depression in the Arabian Sea.

Shaikh Al Maamari said: “(The meeting) looked into the preparedness of civil defence units and the need to maintain services to the public.''

Sea conditions along the south-eastern coast will be rough with maximum wave height of between three and four metres. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation and Meteorology has cautioned fishermen and people living in low-lying areas.