Luban to bring heavy downpour in Dhofar, Al Wusta governorates

Schools in Dhofar to remain closed today; direct impact to be felt on Saturday

The severe tropical storm Luban over Arabian Sea intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm on Wednesday with wind speeds of 119-137km/hr. The storm will bring isolated rains from Friday in Dhofar and Al Wusta governorates, while heavy downpour with gale-force winds are expected from Saturday afternoon.

The Directorate General of Education in Dhofar on Wednesday announced that schools will remain closed on Thursday due to the tropical condition (Luban). The decision has been taken in coordination with the sub-committee of civil defence in the governorate. This is to ensure the safety of students and staff and within the framework of having schools in the governorate as temporary 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 contin- ued to move towards the westnorthwest direction. “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 very severe cyclonic storm over the westcentral Arabian Sea moved northwestwards with a speed of 135-145km/hr during the past six hours and lay centered at 1730 hrs IST (4pm Oman time), over westcentral Arabian Sea, near 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 over 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, said, “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.”