Muscat: The cold spell in Oman, which has brought temperatures down to sub-zero in Hajjar mountain range, is likely to continue for another week, according to a spokesperson for the Meteorology Department Wednesday.
“Last Monday we recorded minus 6 degree Celsius in Jabal Shams and minus 1 last night,” the spokesperson for the Meteorology Department told Gulf News.
Jabal Shams has recorded as low as -8 degree Celsius temperature in the past.
The Forecaster at the Met Department said that weather is likely to remain cold for another week and then it may start warming up.
No reports of snow
Although the temperatures have dipped to sub-zero levels, there are no reports of snow fall like in December 2010.
“There is no snow anywhere in Jabal Shams although temperature, especially at night is really freezing,” Girish K., who works with the Jabal Shamsh Base Camp (JSBC), told Gulf News by telephone.
The JSBC is at 2000ft above sea level. “From here we can even see the highest peak in Oman at 3000ft but we don’t see any snow,” he pointed out.
Extreme
However, the Indian expatriate added that he did see ice formed from dew on plants and rocks. Girish, who has been at Jabal Shams for the last ten months said that except extreme cold in the night, the weather has been very pleasant on the Hajjar Mountains.
With mercury touching 14 and 12 degree Celsius in capital, rumours about snow have circulating thick and fast in Muscat. “I have been getting lot of calls inquiring about snow in Jabal Shams but so far there has been no snow this season,” Girish reiterated.
As north-westerly winds from higher reaches of Iran bring cold wave to Oman, residents make the most by visiting wadis and wahiba sands, where temperature at night is very low.
