Heavy thunderstorms expected to lash Oman

Muscat: The Civil Aviation Authority of Oman has issued an alert of heavy thunderstorms that are likely to affect the governorates of Dhofar, Al Wusta, South Al Sharqiyah, Al Hajar Mountains and their adjacent areas from Monday. Rains between 10mm and 30 mm are expected during this period.

The Oman Meteorology department has announced the current air depression will continue until the end of the week, extending to Muscat and other governorates. It will hit the peak on Sunday.

Air depression results in cloudy and wet weather. Since Friday evening, the Sultanate has been witnessing an air depression in the governorates of Dhofar, Al Wusta, South Al Sharqiyah, Al Hajar Mountains and the adjacent areas.

The statement also mentioned that this is due to remnants of winter depressions that will intermittently affect the Sultanate’s atmosphere.

An official from the meteorology department spoke exclusively to Times of Oman, stressing that the maximum impact of the depression in the Sultanate will be on Sunday.

The official also confirmed that the air depression will extend its impact in the coming days to include the governorates of Muscat, North and South Al Batinah, North Al Sharqiyah, Al Dakhiliyah and Al Dhahirah.

The Civil Aviation Authority, ( CAA ), also confirmed, in an alert published on Saturday, that heavy thunderstorms are expected on Sunday from 11 am to 11 pm, in the governorates of Dhofar, Al Wusta, South Al Sharqiyah, the Hajar Mountains, and the adjacent areas.

The authority calls on everyone to take caution pointing that the rainfall may range from 10 to 30 mm.

The authority added: "We urge everyone not to cross the valleys, avoid low places, and not go to the sea during the warning period."

Expected effect during the alert period:

 1- The flow of reefs and valleys in some areas, accompanied by active winds sometimes.

 2- Decreased horizontal visibility during thunderstorms to less than 1000 metres.

The wilayats of Dima Wa’Tayyin and Al-Qabil in North Al-Sharqiyah Governorate, the Wilayat of Bahla in Al-Dakhiliyah Governorate, the Wilayat of Haima in Al-Wusta Governorate, the wilayats of Qurayyat and Al-Amerat in Muscat Governorate and some of the Wilayates of Al-Dhahirah Governorate, as well as in the Dhofar and South Al-Sharqiyah Governorates, witnessed thunderstorms as a result of being affected by a thunder cell that caused the reefs and valleys to flow.