Timely forecasts to the rescue

Given Oman’s mountainous topography, even an hour of continuous spell of rainfall can disrupt normal lives due to sudden flow of water through wadis sandwiched between mountains.

Motorists travelling on roads that cross the wadis tend to get caught unawares.

Accurate and timely weather forecasts help save many lives because people can avoid routes presumed to be more dangerous than the others.

This time around, the Oman Meteorology Department offered near- accurate weather predictions that northern parts of Oman would be affected by a trough of low pressure during between December 15 and 18.

“Weather updates in Oman have been near-accurate and it helps people travelling to remote mountainous places for various projects,” said Haitham al Harrasi, a telecom engineer.

“Motorists can get stranded due to rising water levels in isolated places with little scope for help from anywhere. Weather updates, especially through social media, have been really useful,” he said.

According to a report, countries have been getting better in weather forecast, which not only aid disaster management agencies, but also save money that hit insurance companies due to loss of human lives and property.

“In Oman, vehicles are most affected due to heavy rains that may last only a few hours. That is because people carelessly park their vehicles in wadis or open areas near water streams. Weather bulletins can help such people to be more cautious,” said an insurance company executive.

Near-accurate weather forecasts by the Oman Meteorology and the National Multi-Hazard Early Warning Centre helps the civil defence agencies like the municipalities, Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA) and the Royal Oman Police (ROP) to make preparations in advance for emergency situations.

It also helps in rescheduling various activities, including meetings and examinations, to help people avoid travel in challenging conditions.

Despite these efforts, there are been reports of people stranded or vehicles washed away due to wadi overflows.