Oman Wires It's all about Oman
The Directorate General of Education in Dhofar on Wednesday announced that schools will stay closed on Thursday due to the tropical situation (Luban). The choice has been taken in coordination with the sub-committee of civil defence in the governorate. This is to make sure the security of students and employees and inside the framework of possessing schools in the governorate as short-term shelters for citizens in coordination with the Ministry of Education.
The Public Authority for Civil Aviation’s (PACA) National Multi Hazard and Early Warning Centre stated that Luban continued to move towards the west-northwest path. “The governorates of Dhofar and Al Wusta have been affected by indirect impact starting from Wednesday with high sea waves of 3-4m and strong winds.”
It added, “Isolated rains are expected from Friday, October 12, while the direct impact of the tropical cyclone with heavy rains and strong winds are expected to affect Dhofar and Al Wusta starting from Saturday (October 13) afternoon. Also, maximum wave height may reach 6m to 8m.”
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) in its evening bulletin on Wednesday stated that the extremely serious cyclonic storm more than the westcentral Arabian Sea moved northwestwards with a speed of 135-145km/hr in the course of the previous six hours and lay centered at 1730 hrs IST (4pm Oman time), more than westcentral Arabian Sea, close to latitude 14.4°N and longitude 58.7°E, about 570km east-southeast of Salalah, Oman.
“It is very likely to intensify further and move west-northwestwards towards Yemen and south Oman coasts during the next four days,” IMD stated.
IMD added that gale-force winds reaching 120-130km/hr gusting to 145km/hr was prevailing more than the westcentral and adjoining southwest Arabian Sea. “It is very likely to increase gradually becoming 135-145km/hr gusting to 160km/hr by October 11 evening over the westcentral Arabian Sea around the system centre. The wind speed is very likely to decrease gradually over the southwest Arabian Sea from October 11 onwards.”
Jason Nicholls, senior meteorologist/international forecasting manager, AccuWeather, stated, “Luban can strengthen sometime before making landfall in eastern Yemen this weekend. Some rain and wind is expected in the Dhofar region late on Friday into Sunday, local time.”
Information Source: Muscat Daily
