Muscat: Oman will receive more than 12 hours of sunshine on the longest day of the year, known as the summer solstice.
Set to fall on Tuesday, 21 June, the sun will rise over Muscat at 5:19am on that day, and set a full 13 hours and 35 minutes later at 6:54pm.
Over Salalah in the south, sunrise is at 5:51 am, and sunset some 13 hours and eight minutes later, at 6:59pm. “Most parts of Oman will have clear and sunny skies with some scattered clouds, but for the most part, the weather will be dry,” said a meteorologist at the Civil Aviation Authority. “However, it will be cloudy over the Dhofar governorate and its adjoining areas, because that area is already feeling the effects of monsoon,” she added.
The weather report for Tuesday, released by the CAA, added that there was a “chance of late night to early morning low-level clouds or fog patches over South Al Sharqiyah and Al Wusta governorates,” as well as dusty winds over deserts and open areas.
On Wednesday, 22 June, however, there is likely to be some rain over areas overlooked by the Hajar Mountains, as there is a “chance of convective clouds over Al Hajar Mountains toward afternoon with chances of isolated rain and occasional thundershowers.”
Many places in Oman are likely to experience temperatures above 40 degrees. Buraimi, Fahud and Sohar (all 46 degrees) are the hottest places in Oman on Tuesday, with Haima, Thumrait, Marmul, Ibra and Adam also sweltering under temperatures of 44 degrees.
Temperatures of 43 degrees are forecast for Yanqul, Samail, Nizwa, Bahla and Mudheibi, while Rustaq, Khasab and Al Amerat (42 degrees) are also experiencing high levels of mercury. Sohar, Suwaiq and Sur are all likely to record temperatures of 40 degrees.
People living in Duqm and Muhut will experience cooler weather (36 degrees), both Jabal Shams and Jabal Samhan (both 27 degrees) and Jabal Qamar (23 degrees) are some of the most pleasant places to be in. While the summer solstice on 21 June has the longest period of daytime, the winter solstice, slated to fall on Thursday, 22 December, will have the least daylight time.