Dubai: Tropical storm Ashobaa changed its course, heading westward, and will not directly affect the UAE, the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) said on Wednesday.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Ashoba was approximately 220km from the coast of South Sharqiyah in Oman. The speed of its central winds were 80-90km/h.

“Ashobaa will only have an indirect effect in the UAE. This means the eastern part of the country will feel the side effects of the storm like an increase in wave height in the Oman Sea that will be rough at times on Wednesday night until Thursday morning,” a weather forecaster told Gulf News.

“The eastern and southeastern region will experience cloudy weather that could be embedded with slight rain due to the tropical storm.”

If it continues its course, Ashobaa is expected to make landfall in Oman on Thursday morning.

“Ashobaa is heading west towards Oman and, by the time it hits land, it will start to weaken gradually and become a tropical depression,” the forecaster said.

The Eastern Region will experience a drop in temperature of between three and four degrees Celsius. Temperatures across the country will range between 37C and 46C.

NCMS warned Khor Fakkan, Dibba, and Kalba residents to avoid all sea activities until Thursday morning as the Oman Sea will be rough to very rough, with wave heights expected to reach between eight and 12 feet offshore.

Sharjah and Fujairah Municipality, police, and civil defence met on Wednesday to review their emergency response plans. Officials assured the public that they are ready to act quickly in case of any emergency.

Colonel Abdullah Mubarak Bin Amer, Deputy Director-General of Sharjah Police at the Sharjah Police Directorate in the Eastern Region, headed the meeting that was attended by officials from the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Protection Authority, the armed forces, and other relevant authorities.

Col Amer said the situation is not alarming and they are in contact with NCMS in order to receive latest updates on the situation.

He called on members of the public to exercise caution and to monitor weather conditions from official sources and avoid going to the beach.

Abu Dhabi Police’s search and rescue team was dispatched to Al Heel, Fujairah, on Wednesday as a precautionary measure. The teams have been supplied with all necessary equipment in order to provide back-up for all relevant authorities.

Meanwhile, rocks have been placed on the shores of Kalba as a water flush is expected due to its topography. Municipality trucks that pump out water are on standby in case of flooding. Moderate rain was reported in Rowdah areas and Truck Road on Wednesday afternoon.

Chevroleth Therese, a Fujairah resident who works in a hotel on the Fujairah coast, said all water sports activities were stopped on Wednesday afternoon due to rough seas.

“The hotel decided to cordon off the beach as a precaution. The waves are high and the water current is strong. No one is allowed to head out to sea because of the unstable weather,” the Filipina told Gulf News.

Therese said they placed sandbags near the shore to prevent seawater from flooding their premises.

Berna, another Fujairah resident, said they operated normally on Wednesday although the seas were visibly rough.