Muscat experienced a cloudy day with rains, while some areas, like Al Ansab and Al Amerat reported hail on Wednesday. Many other governorates had thunderstorms, as there are chances of the influence of the low-pressure system to begin.
Cumulative clouds continue to form around the Al Hajar Mountains and the adjacent areas and the coastal areas of the Sea of Oman and Musandam Governorate. Rains of varying intensity and thunderstorms are expected.
Cumulus cloud activity has been observed over South Al Batinah, parts of Dakhiliyah, North Al Batinah and Musandam, with possibilities for the rain of varying intensity. According to the Met Office, the flow of clouds may flow over to the Dhofar Governorate bringing in sporadic rains.
“The effect of a low pressure system influencing Oman coming from the Mediterranean Sea
is expected to begin on
Thursday’’, said the weather expert, Mansoor al Shabibi, at the National Multi-Hazard Early Warning Centre.
He said, “On Wednesday, we have had clear to partly cloudy skies in most of the Sultanate and some places experienced thundershowers and hail storms associated with fresh winds and rain over some areas in the northern part of Oman. The effect of the trough system is expected to begin on Monday.”
The given name for the low-pressure system is Al Khair, Al Shabibi explained, “This name Al Khair has been issued before, and we can combine it with the holy month of Ramadhan which is also a month of ‘Khair’, and that is why this term has been used for the current system.”
Usually, the system formed over the Mediterranean Sea moves towards the Gulf countries and to Oman, bringing in rain associated with fresh wind and hail.
“We also expect the seas to be moderate to rough. When the clouds arrive over the mountains, heavy rains are expected and, at times, thunderstorms. We also expect the wadis to overflow, so one has to be cautious. There can be a reduction in visibility.
Over most of the Sultanate, the wind is expected to be southerly to southeasterly light to moderate. The sea condition is expected to be slight across Musandam coast and the Oman Sea. At the same time, the Arabian Sea is reported to be slight to moderate with a wave height of 2.0 m.
Horizontal visibility is expected to be poor during thunderstorms, warned the Met Office.
According to weather experts, storms are developing rapidly across the Middle East. Storms are being experienced in Iran, the Horn of Africa, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Oman is to receive their share as well expected to begin on April 29.
Lakshmi Kothaneth
@lakshmioman
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