Category 4 hurricane-level Cyclone Chapala: Oman, Yemen on flood alert
Cyclone Chapala may have no direct impact on UAE: NCMS By Bindu Rai
http://www.emirates247.com
Latest: Cyclone Chapala, a storm gathering in the
centre of the Arabian Sea, may have no direct impact on the UAE,
according to the National Center of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS).
''Chapala may generate clouds in the south of the UAE as a result of a strong high pressure system on land and upper atmosphere extending from north-east Iran and Pakistan and east Caspian Sea.
''Chapala may generate clouds in the south of the UAE as a result of a strong high pressure system on land and upper atmosphere extending from north-east Iran and Pakistan and east Caspian Sea.
“Accordingly, this will make it difficult for the tropical system to head towards the UAE,” the NCMS said in a statement.
Satellite images, weather numerical models and forecasts, the NCMS added, show that the tropical storm was moving towards southern coasts of Oman and Yemen and might reach the Gulf of Aden on November 2.
Cyclone threatens floods, damage in Yemen, Oman
Cyclone Chapala, a storm gathering in the Arabian Sea, is heading for Yemen and Oman and may cause floods, landslides and infrastructure damage in countries that are ill-prepared for such weather, Clare Nullis, spokeswoman for the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) was quoted by Reuters as saying on Friday.
The UN climate agency said the tropical cyclone has strengthened very quickly in the past day and is expected to become a super-cyclonic storm in the next 24 hours, with sustained winds of up to 230kmph (143 mph), equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane.
It is expected to hit the coast on Monday night.
"We do expect it will weaken before it makes landfall. It will probably be more on the lines of Category 1, but even so there will be very high gale force winds in an area that is just not used to seeing this," said Clare Nullis, spokeswoman for the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
"The winds are a threat but we expect the biggest impact will be from the very, very, very serious rainfall. I’ve seen some reports that the area might get the equivalent of more than a year’s worth of rainfall in a couple of days."
Nullis said the WMO was not aware of a tropical cyclone ever hitting Yemen before, although a cyclone that hit Oman in 2007 had done several billion dollars’ worth of damage and killed about 50 people.
The area of northern Yemen that is in the storm’s path is sparsely populated, but the Omani port city of Salalah is likely to be heavily affected, she said.
Salalah is Oman’s second largest city, with a population of about 200,000, and has a major container port managed by APM Terminals, part of A.P. Moller-Maersk
The winds are expected to slow to 150-160 kmph just before the storm makes landfall, and then slow further to 100-110 kmph.
The storm was caused by high sea temperatures and atmospheric conditions, but it was not clear if it was also caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon or by global warming, and if such storms might recur in future, she said.
"With climate change we’re really heading into unknown territory. We can expect to see things happening in the future that never happened in the past."
Satellite images, weather numerical models and forecasts, the NCMS added, show that the tropical storm was moving towards southern coasts of Oman and Yemen and might reach the Gulf of Aden on November 2.
Cyclone threatens floods, damage in Yemen, Oman
Cyclone Chapala, a storm gathering in the Arabian Sea, is heading for Yemen and Oman and may cause floods, landslides and infrastructure damage in countries that are ill-prepared for such weather, Clare Nullis, spokeswoman for the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) was quoted by Reuters as saying on Friday.
The UN climate agency said the tropical cyclone has strengthened very quickly in the past day and is expected to become a super-cyclonic storm in the next 24 hours, with sustained winds of up to 230kmph (143 mph), equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane.
It is expected to hit the coast on Monday night.
"We do expect it will weaken before it makes landfall. It will probably be more on the lines of Category 1, but even so there will be very high gale force winds in an area that is just not used to seeing this," said Clare Nullis, spokeswoman for the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
"The winds are a threat but we expect the biggest impact will be from the very, very, very serious rainfall. I’ve seen some reports that the area might get the equivalent of more than a year’s worth of rainfall in a couple of days."
Nullis said the WMO was not aware of a tropical cyclone ever hitting Yemen before, although a cyclone that hit Oman in 2007 had done several billion dollars’ worth of damage and killed about 50 people.
The area of northern Yemen that is in the storm’s path is sparsely populated, but the Omani port city of Salalah is likely to be heavily affected, she said.
Salalah is Oman’s second largest city, with a population of about 200,000, and has a major container port managed by APM Terminals, part of A.P. Moller-Maersk
The winds are expected to slow to 150-160 kmph just before the storm makes landfall, and then slow further to 100-110 kmph.
The storm was caused by high sea temperatures and atmospheric conditions, but it was not clear if it was also caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon or by global warming, and if such storms might recur in future, she said.
"With climate change we’re really heading into unknown territory. We can expect to see things happening in the future that never happened in the past."
Earlier reports:
Oman is preparing to face Cyclone Chapala, which currently lies 850 km off the coast off Dhofar.
Warnings have been issued of possible flash floods, in wake of thunderstorms and torrential rain, even as a marine alert cautions of wave heights reaching 22 feet.
Warnings have been issued of possible flash floods, in wake of thunderstorms and torrential rain, even as a marine alert cautions of wave heights reaching 22 feet.
hit Kuwait Towers (AFP)
Residents are being told to move away from the coastline, with the cyclone's trajectory following a destructive path that, current estimates predict, will see it veer towards neighbouring Yemen's coastline.
In its Friday update, the Public Authority of Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA) in Oman stated: "The Multi-Hazard Warning Centre analysis reveals that the Tropical Storm over the central Arabian Sea has intensified into a Tropical Cyclone on Friday.
"The surface wind speed around the centre reaches 65 knots or 135kms per hour and centered 850kms from coastal area governorate of Dhofar."
The forecast further states the cyclone will track northwest towards Yemen, adding: "Heavy rain, thunderstorms, leading to flash floods over Al Wusta and Dhofar are expected starting Saturday evening."
The PACDA has also warned the Northeasterly winds, travelling from popular tourist destination of Ras Al Hadd - which houses the region's turtle reserve - until Dhofar will witness wave heights of 16 feet to 22 feet.
Possible rain in UAE, Oman
Residents are being told to move away from the coastline, with the cyclone's trajectory following a destructive path that, current estimates predict, will see it veer towards neighbouring Yemen's coastline.
In its Friday update, the Public Authority of Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA) in Oman stated: "The Multi-Hazard Warning Centre analysis reveals that the Tropical Storm over the central Arabian Sea has intensified into a Tropical Cyclone on Friday.
"The surface wind speed around the centre reaches 65 knots or 135kms per hour and centered 850kms from coastal area governorate of Dhofar."
The forecast further states the cyclone will track northwest towards Yemen, adding: "Heavy rain, thunderstorms, leading to flash floods over Al Wusta and Dhofar are expected starting Saturday evening."
The PACDA has also warned the Northeasterly winds, travelling from popular tourist destination of Ras Al Hadd - which houses the region's turtle reserve - until Dhofar will witness wave heights of 16 feet to 22 feet.
Possible rain in UAE, Oman
As Cyclone Chapala approaches the Oman coastline, residents are being
warned of rough seas and fresh winds in the UAE over the weekend, with a
chance of rainfall in parts of the country.
While the trajectory of the cyclone sees the weather system steer clear of the UAE, Oman remains on alert, while warning residents to avoid the coastline and wadis in lieu of possible flooding.
Residents of the UAE planning on taking advantage of the cooler climes to organise a road trip to the neighbouring country should heed to warnings issued by the Public Authority of Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA) in Oman.
As per the last update, Cyclone Chapala remains 850kms from Oman's Masirah Island.
The UAE has been experiencing heavy rainfall and waterlogging in parts of Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, with showers also recorded in Al Dhaid on Wednesday.
The country's National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) has further stated that Friday will see the chance of some convective clouds over the eastern mountains by afternoon, with fresh winds that could result in blowing dust over some areas and low visibility.
With Cyclone Chapala expected to gain momentum in the coming 48 hours to possibly turn into a very severe cyclonic storm according to forecasters, the NCMS has stated the waters of Arabian Gulf would be rough, along with the Oman Sea.
Temperatures, meanwhile, having been cooling off, with the mountains seeing the Mercury reach averages of 15 degrees Celsius, while the mean will hover in the mid-thirties around the coastal and internal areas.
On Saturday, the weather is expected to follow the same pattern as Friday, with a marine alert remaining in place.
The NCMS has also forecasted the relative humidity will increase during late night and early morning over some coastal and internal areas, especially towards west, which may give rise to mist or fog on Sunday.
While the trajectory of the cyclone sees the weather system steer clear of the UAE, Oman remains on alert, while warning residents to avoid the coastline and wadis in lieu of possible flooding.
Residents of the UAE planning on taking advantage of the cooler climes to organise a road trip to the neighbouring country should heed to warnings issued by the Public Authority of Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA) in Oman.
As per the last update, Cyclone Chapala remains 850kms from Oman's Masirah Island.
The UAE has been experiencing heavy rainfall and waterlogging in parts of Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, with showers also recorded in Al Dhaid on Wednesday.
The country's National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) has further stated that Friday will see the chance of some convective clouds over the eastern mountains by afternoon, with fresh winds that could result in blowing dust over some areas and low visibility.
With Cyclone Chapala expected to gain momentum in the coming 48 hours to possibly turn into a very severe cyclonic storm according to forecasters, the NCMS has stated the waters of Arabian Gulf would be rough, along with the Oman Sea.
Temperatures, meanwhile, having been cooling off, with the mountains seeing the Mercury reach averages of 15 degrees Celsius, while the mean will hover in the mid-thirties around the coastal and internal areas.
On Saturday, the weather is expected to follow the same pattern as Friday, with a marine alert remaining in place.
The NCMS has also forecasted the relative humidity will increase during late night and early morning over some coastal and internal areas, especially towards west, which may give rise to mist or fog on Sunday.
التعليقات على الموضوع