MUSCAT: Tropical Storm Asna, which has evolved from a deep tropical depression, is currently moving west from the northeastern Arabian Sea towards the Sea of Oman. As of Friday evening, the closest rainy clouds were 760 km away, with the storm approximately 900 km from the Wilayat of Sur - Ras Al Hadd.
Asna's trajectory could lead it towards the areas between Muscat and Al Sharqiyah South governorates, potentially bringing varying rainfall to Al Sharqiyah North, Al Sharqiyah South, Muscat, and parts of Al Batinah South and Al Dakhiliyah governorates on Sunday and Monday. This scenario poses a risk of wadi flows due to expected rainfall.
Alternatively, the storm might shift south/southwest, weakening and moving away from Al Sharqiyah South, which could lead to scattered rains in Al Sharqiyah North, Al Sharqiyah South and Al Wusta governorates.
An increase in sea wave heights is anticipated along most of Oman’s coasts on September 1 and 2, with waves potentially reaching 3.0-5.0 metres. The sea is expected to be moderate to rough.
Authorities advise the public to exercise caution and avoid sea activities. The National Multi Hazard Early Warning Centre continues to monitor the situation and issue alerts. Wind speeds around the storm’s centre are between 30 to 40 knots, with a medium probability of intensification as of Friday evening.
Meanwhile, members of the National Committee for Emergency Management (NCEM) met at the National Multi Hazard Early Warning Centre to follow up on the weather conditions due to the formation of a tropical system in the Arabian Sea.
NCEM works within its competencies to ensure the readiness of the national system and enhance the integration of joint response operations while ensuring the readiness of the system's operations centres to face general disasters and exceptional emergencies, and their ability to maintain communication and manage information.
NCEM works to follow up on plans and programmes to enhance the resources and capabilities necessary to face exceptional emergency cases, in coordination with the concerned authorities, and to ensure the readiness and ability of vital and productive facilities to work in exceptional emergency cases and to implement the national plan for managing emergencies, and follow-up and coordination response and recovery efforts, based on the directives of the chairman of the National Committee for Emergency Management.
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