Storm in Arabian Sea unlikely to hit UAE

NCM says tropical storm formation detected yesterday

Atropical storm is expected to develop in the Arabian Sea over the next 48 hours, but it is unlikely to hit the UAE shores, according to a National Centre Meteorology (NCM) alert.

The NCM sent out the storm alert yesterday as it detected a tropical cyclone formation in the morning southeast of the Arabian Sea with wind speeds ranging from 30km/h to 50km/h accompanied by rainy convective clouds.

According to Met officials the cyclone is expected to develop into a tropical storm over the Arabian Sea during the next 48 hours and move northwest from the middle of the Arabian Sea. It is expected to hit the Omani coast. However, the forecast assures that the storm will have no direct influence over the country.

According to the NCM, the number of tropical cyclones that affected the Omani coast in the past 72 years is fewer than the total tropical cyclones that formed over the Arabian Sea. As many as 67 such cases have been recorded. The NCM is closely monitoring the situation and will provide updates accordingly, said a Met official.