Oman braces for hotter-than-average summer

Muscat: Cities across Oman have been facing extreme temperatures over the past week, marking a severe start to the summer season as the latest seasonal outlook issued by the Civil Aviation Authority indicates that temperatures are expected to remain above the climatic average across the Sultanate.

According to the June 2026 seasonal forecast issued by the Civil Aviation Authority, average temperatures in Oman are expected to be higher than the long-term climatic average. The outlook suggests that the present spell of intense heat is consistent with the wider seasonal pattern expected during June, when summer conditions typically strengthen across the country and daytime temperatures rise sharply, particularly in interior and desert areas.

The authority’s seasonal bulletin for the June, July and August period also indicates that temperatures are expected to remain above average throughout the three-month outlook period. This means that the current heat is not expected to be an isolated short-term event, but part of a broader summer pattern in which hotter-than-usual conditions may persist across several governorates.

The latest bulletin also points to limited rainfall prospects during the same period. For June, rainfall is expected to be below the climatic average over eastern and southeastern Oman, while the remaining parts of the country are expected to receive rainfall ranging from around the average to below the average. This is an important factor because reduced rainfall and limited cloud cover can allow surface temperatures to rise more quickly during the day.

For July, the seasonal outlook indicates that rainfall is expected to range from around the climatic average to below the average across the Sultanate. In August, rainfall is expected to be below the climatic average in Oman. Taken together, these projections suggest that the country may see a prolonged period of hot and relatively dry summer weather, with limited rainfall relief in many areas.

The Civil Aviation Authority has noted that these seasonal forecasts are issued as an early long-range indication of expected weather conditions. The authority also emphasises that such bulletins do not replace short-term and medium-range weather forecasts, which remain necessary for daily planning and for monitoring any sudden changes in weather conditions.