Rains lash parts of Oman, many towns cloudy since morning
Weather alert had warned of a low-pressure system developing over Arabian Sea
Muscat: Following the weather warning issued by Oman’s Public Authority of Civil Aviation (PACA), due to a low pressure formation in Arabian Sea, the Al Wusta, Sharqiya and Dhofar regions have recorded moderate rainfall in various towns.
The weather alert had warned of a low-pressure system developing over the Arabian Sea, causing an advection of clouds with chances of varying intensity of rainfall and occasionally thundershowers over governorates of Al Sharqiyah, Al Wusta and Dhofar associated with fresh downdraft winds until Monday, July 20.
Souha Al Amri, Supervisor, Sales and Marketing at Crowne Plaza Duqum, said it has been raining since morning today. “We woke to the sounds of rain today (Sunday) and it is still raining. There are also winds that’s not very mild.” Social Media users from Duqum have posted photographs and videos of pouring rain on their timeline. In fact, many users and followers were treated to a live video showing the downpour in Salalah, on the Instagram feed of noted photographer from Salalah, Haitham Al Shanfari, who gets regularly commissioned by National Geographic magazine.
Anita, who works for a leading hotel chain in Salalah, said there was a good amount of rain last night.
Monsoon or Khareef season is currently on in Salalah and the Dhofar region, which brings mild and lingering showers. But the low-pressure system in Arabian Sea did result in some moderate to heavy rainfall.
“It has been windy and it looks dusky since morning. But then we have such days in Salalah during the monsoons,” said another resident of the southern Omani city.
It has also been raining since morning in the Sharqiya town of Jalan Bani Buali. A resident of Sharqiya region’s Wadi Teen, Fahad Al Urba said that there were, however, no rains in his town or near-about even though there were weather warnings. “It has been cloudy but hot nevertheless, and I do hope it rains,” Fahad said.
Sur, a key town in Sharqiya region, too has been sporting a cloudy look since morning. Kosala, of Sur Plaza Hotel, said the cloud may descend anytime. “It looks very cloudy and windy and there is a bit of dust storm swirling in too at times. Since the weather alert is on till tomorrow evening, I reckon we can expect the rain anytime now.”