Dust storms likely to reduce visibility

By Kabeer Yousuf — MUSCAT: Feb 18 - The Met Office has cautioned against dust-raising winds in most parts of the Sultanate. “Many parts of Oman will experience light to moderate northerly to northwesterly winds associated with dust-raising winds. People should avoid open spaces,” said the Directorate-General of Meteorology and Air Navigation (DGMAN) at the Public Authority of Civil Aviation (PACA). “Satellite images show there are chances of dust-raising winds over the desert and open areas. Hence, people have been advised cautions,” said the Met office.

Since the visibility over desert and open areas will dip, motorists have been advised to drive carefully. Advection clouds are likely over most of the northern governorates and mainly clear skies over rest of the country. There are chances of late night to early morning low-level clouds over governorates of Al Buraimi, North Al Sharqiyah and South Al Sharqiyah and the coastal areas of Arabian Sea. The state of sea will be rough along the coastal areas of Oman Sea, Musandam and South Al Sharqiyah governorates, with waves rising to a maximum height of three metres.