Heavy rains recorded over a number of wilayats in Oman

Muscat: The Wilayat of Al-Awabi in the Governorate of South Al Batinah recorded the highest amount of precipitation in the Sultanate exceeding 290 millimetres on August 1 and August 2.  

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries Wealth and Water Resources said: “The distribution of rainfall in different wilayats of the Sultanate of Oman on August 1 and August 2 was as follows: Wilayat of Al Awabi in South Al Batinah Governorate recorded the highest amount of rainfall at 291 mm, followed by the wilayat of Al Hamra in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate at 160 mm, wilayat of Bahla in the same Governorate at 50 mm, wilayat of Ibra in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate at 45 mm, wilayat of Manah in the same governorate at 38 mm.”

Wilayat of Al Mudhaibi in North Al Sharqiyah Governorate received 35 millimetres of rainfall, followed by the wilayat of Nizwa in Al Dakhliyiah receiving slightly less at 33 mm. The wilayats Saham and Samail  recorded the lowest amount of rainfall in the Sultanate at just 3 mm.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA ) said that local formation clouds over the Al-Hajar Mountains and neighbouring areas led to rainfall with varying intensity accompanied by strong winds and hail in the north of Al Sharqiyah in Al-Qabil, Al-Mudhaibi and Ibra, Al-Dakhiliyah in Al-Hamra, Bahla and Nizwa, Al-Dhahirah in Dhank, Ibri and Yanqul, Al-Buraimi and Mahdah.

The statement added that “the thunderstorms were accompanied by active winds that led to decreased visibility and volatilisation of unstable materials. Therefore, utmost care and caution must be taken and approach near streams of valleys should be avoided.”

The Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA) also said that “in view of the heavy rains expected in the governorates of North and South Al Batinah, Al Dakhiliyah, Al Buraimi, Al Dhahirah and North Al Sharqiyah, the authority calls on everyone to adhere to safety guidelines that guarantee the safety of lives and property.