Dust storm increases temperature by 7 degrees Celsius

MUSCAT, May 13 - The Sultanate, of late, is witnessing a moderate to active south-west wind laden with dust, caused by the dust storm in the Arabian Peninsula in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, stated the Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA). The blowing dust has led to a relative high temperature of 4 to 7 degrees Celsius, reaching 45 and 46 degrees in some areas, and to low visibility on roads. PACA said that the dust storm started affecting the northern parts of the Sultanate including Musandam, North Batinah, Buraimi, Muscat and Dakhiliyah, on Sunday morning and shall continue for two days before it gradually starts to fade away. For Monday, clear skies over most of the Sultanate is expected with chances of cloud development and isolated rain over Al Hajar Mountains by afternoon and low level clouds formation from late night to early Tuesday morning along the parts of the Arabian Sea coastal areas. Zainab al Nassri