Muscat: The air depression which started in the Sultanate of Oman began its actual effect on Wednesday morning, due to which heavy rains are expected in Muscat Governorate on Friday, January 27 and Saturday, January 28, 2023, said Oman Meteorology.
An official from the Oman Meteorology confirmed to Times of Oman that the impact of the air depression on the Sultanate began significantly this morning in the Governorate of Musandam and parts of the governorates of Buraimi and North Al Batinah, the weather will be cloudy today in the governorates of Musandam, and North Al Batinah extending to the governorates of South Al Batinah, North and South Al Sharqiyah and Al Dhahirah with chances of heavy thunderstorms, this evening, Wednesday, until Saturday 28, 2023.
The official added that the weather in Muscat Governorate will be partly cloudy today, with chances of light scattered rain in several wilayats of the governorate. The weather will intensify on Friday and Saturday, occasionally accompanied with thunderstorms.
The official also stressed that the weather will extend to the governorates of Al Wusta, Dhofar and the Badia regions, with chances of rain in the coastal areas.
The official from the Oman Meteorology also added that the winds will be southerly to southeasterly over various governorates and wilayats of the Sultanate, with temperatures continuing to drop, especially in the evening and early hours of the morning.
As for the sea, the official indicated that the sea waves will be medium on all coasts of the Sultanate, and it will reach rough waves when it rains, reaching two meters high.
Air depression to affect Oman’s weather
The air of the Sultanate of Oman will continue to be affected by a groove of an air depression until the evening of Saturday, corresponding to January 28, 2023 the Civil Aviation Authority ( CAA ) said.
The CAA issued its second report on the weather condition affecting the Sultanate’s: “The air of the Sultanate of Oman continued to be affected by a groove of air depression until the evening of Saturday, corresponding to January 28, 2023, when it is expected that clouds will continue to flow over the governorates of Musandam, North Al Batinah, South Al Batinah, Al Buraimi and Al Dhahirah. And Ad Dakhiliyah and Muscat with chances of rain of varying intensity, sometimes thundery, with chances of hail.”
The report added: "The effect of the groove extends gradually to include the governorates of North Sharqiyah, South Sharqiyah, Al Wusta, and Dhofar, and rain concentration in the northern governorates of the Sultanate of Oman."
The report on the expected impacts also indicated that sporadic rains of varying intensity, ranging from 10 mm to 60 mm, will lead to runoff of reefs and valleys, with opportunities for snowfall and frost formation on mountain peaks.
It also added: "Active downward winds, with speeds ranging between 15 and 40 knots (28 - 74 km/h), may lead to unstable materials to fly, as well as dust storms.”
As for the state of the sea, the report indicated that the sea wave would be medium to rough on most of the coasts of the Sultanate of Oman, with its maximum height ranging between two to three meters.
The report also confirmed a noticeable decrease in temperatures in most of the governorates of the Sultanate of Oman, especially the mountainous highlands.