Rains, hail and winds forecast for parts of Oman

Muscat: A trough of low pressure will bring with it rain over Oman’s northern governorates, starting Wednesday evening.

Oman had received plenty of rainfall over the last week, and an update from the Directorate General of Meteorology at the Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) has said that thundershowers are expected from January 22, Wednesday, to January 24, Friday.

“Weather analysis in the National Multi-Hazard Early Warning Centre indicates that a trough of low pressure will affect the northern governorates of the Sultanate commencing today evening,” said PACA.

“There are chances of rain and thundershowers accompanied with fresh downdraft winds, hail and wadis (flash floods) over the Musandam governorate.”

“Over Al Buraimi, and governorates adjacent to the Sea of Oman, the weather will be partly cloudy with chances of isolated rain,” added the authority.

“The sea state will be moderate among most of Oman’s coasts, with a maximum wave height of two metres.

"Following the passage of this trough, a fresh (15 to 30 knots) northwesterly wind will affect most of the governorates, starting on Saturday evening, January 25, 2020, leading to a noticeable drop in air temperature, frost formation over mountains, and blowing of dust over deserts and open areas.”

PACA also asked people to take precautions during the rains and while crossing wadis, and to check the state of the sea before venturing out.

Last week, many roads had to be temporarily closed off, owing to runoff from the rain accumulating on them, while schools in the capital also had to send their students and staff home, owing to the danger posed to families and bus drivers who drove on the slippery roads on the way to picking them up.

While morning classes in schools were cancelled, those schools that ran afternoon shifts also cancelled classes for the day.

The same held true for all extracurricular activities that were scheduled in schools.