Muscat: The governorates of North and South Al Sharqiyah witnessed extremely heavy rains accompanied by hail and strong downdraft wind as a low pressure system continued to impact the country for the second day, on Monday.
The National Committee on Emergency Management continued its efforts to provide aid and support to citizens and residents through a number of subcommittees spread across the governorates. Meanwhile, search and rescue operations continued for missing persons, transporting the injured to hospitals, and rescuing people stranded in running wadis as a lot of people were evacuated to safe places after their homes were partially or totally damaged due to heavy rain.
Weather analysis by the National Multi Hazard Early Warning Centre indicated that the adverse weather will reach its peak on the dawn of Tuesday.
Aisha bint Jumaa al Qasmiyah, a meteorologist at the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), said that the third wave of the depression is the severest and is predicted to bring heavy rains. The governorates of Musandam, Al Dhahirah, Al Buraimi, North Al Batinah, and Al Dakhiliyah are likely to witness heavy to extremely heavy rains to the governorates of South Al Batinah, Muscat and parts of Al Wusta while the other governorates will witness scattered rains of varying intensity. The effects of the low pressure system will continue until Wednesday evening with rain of varying intensity falling on the governorates of Al Dakhiliyah, North Al Sharqiyah, and South Al Sharqiyah.
Al Qasmiyah noted that giant supercells had formed over the governorates of Al Dhahirah, Al Dakhiliyah, and North Al Sharqiyah since Monday morning bringing rainfall of varying intensity. Supercells also affected the governorates of South Al Sharqiyah, North Al Sharqiyah, Al Dakhiliyah and parts of Al Dhahirah and Al Wusta causing rain of varying intensity accompanied by active winds and hail.
She added that some wilayats witnessed heavy to extremely heavy rains on Monday bringing torrential rains that caused wadis to overflow. The highest rainfall amounts were recorded in the wilayats of Wadi Bani Khalid, Al Kamil Wal Wafi, Al Qabil, Al Mudhaibi, Bidiya, Ibra, and Qurayyat.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) issued a statement on Monday calling on citizens and residents to be extra cautious as torrential rains ranging between 5 mm and 150 mm are predicted on Tuesday in Musandam Governorate and 30 mm to 120 mm in the governorates of Al Buriami, Al Dhahira, North Al Batinah and Al Dakhiliyah.
There are also chances of rainfall of varying intensity in the governorates of Muscat, South Al Batinah, North Al Sharqiyah and Al Wusta on Tuesday.
The Wilayat of Wadi Bani Khalid in the North Al Sharqiyah Governorate recorded the highest rainfall amount of 159 mm followed by the wilayats of Ibra, Al Mudhaibi and Sinaw (126 mm). The Wilayat of Bidiya recorded 114 mm, the Wilayat of Al Qabil (109 mm), the Wilayat of Al Kamil Wal Wafi (107 mm) and the Wilayat of Qurayyat in Muscat Governorate recorded 100 mm.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
