'Sayal' brings heavy rains

A number of governorates in the Sultanate of Oman witnessed heavy to moderate rainfall causing wadis to overflow, on Tuesday.

The weather forecast by the National Multi Hazard Early Warning Centre indicates that rainfall will continue on Wednesday in smaller quantities. Rainfall of up to 30 mm is expected over Dhofar Governorate, while the governorates of Al Batinah North, Al Batinah South, Al Dakhiliyah, Muscat, Al Dhahirah and Al Buraimi are expected to receive rainfall ranging between 20 to 50 mm.

The centre said that the tropical condition will gradually fade away from Thursday with the continuation of local formation of clouds on Al Hajar Mountains and a rise in sea waves of up to 3 metres.

Meanwhile, the Search and Rescue Sector readied for action by setting up search and rescue points in the governorates expected to be affected by the Al Sayal depression. In Muscat Governorate, points were activated in Ruwi, Al Hamriya and Al Wadi Al Kabir, while three points were activated in Shaleem and Al Hallaniyat Islands, Hasik and Sarfait in Dhofar Governorate.

OVERFLOWING WADIS

The overflowing wadis also caused traffic problems and an individual was rescued after his vehicle was swept away in a wadi in the Wilayat of Sur.

The Royal Oman Police reported that two people were stuck inside their vehicle in the Al Salimiya wadi in the Wilayat of Sur. The report is being dealt with by the teams. In another incident three individuals were rescued after their vehicle was swept away in a wadi in Sur.

Dhofar Governorate issued a statement that said, “We call on everyone to take the utmost precautions to protect lives and property. Please follow the information from official sources and follow the instructions issued by them, based on the warnings of the National Multi Hazard Early Warning Centre regarding weather conditions.”

According to weather experts, the Wilayat of Sur continued to witness heavy rainfall exceeding 100 mm. Satellite images detected new cumulonimbus activity over land. Heavy rains extended along the Qurayat-Sur line.

RAINFALL

In Al Sharqiyah South Governorate, points were activated in the protection dam, Ras Al Hadd and Shiya. In Al Sharqiyah North Governorate, points were activated in Dima W'attayeen, Wadi Andam and Wadi Bani Khalid. In Al Wusta Governorate, two points were activated in the Wilayat of Mahout and in the Wilayat of Al Jazir.

The Wilayat of Jaalan Bani Bu Ali recorded the highest rainfall amount of 54 mm, followed by the Wilayat of Sur with 35mm, Wilayat of Masirah (22 mm), Qurayat (13 mm), Al Amerat (11 mm) and Al Kamil W'al Wafi and Dima W'attayeen 9 mm each, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MoAFWR).

The Wilayat of Jaalan Bani Bu Ali witnessed rain of varying intensity concentrated in the coastal areas overlooking the Arabian Sea which received medium heavy to rains since Monday morning.

The Wilayat of Sur alongside its niyabats and villages witnessed heavy, medium and light rains that continued for long periods with heavy rains reported in the wilayat’s centre.

The wilayats of Qurayat, Al Amerat, Bausher, Al Seeb, Muscat and Muttrah, in Muscat Governorate witnessed rains of varying intensity that led to the flow of wadis. Rain was also reported in Al Batinah North, Al Batinah South, Al Dakhiliyah and Al Sharqiyah North.