Flood | Emirates Meteorology Blog

Saudi Arabia Heavy Summer Storms – Video

July 21st, 2010

Summer thunderstorms have been exceptionally strong around July 14th, 2010 in southern Saudi Arabia. The storms affected Taif, Gizan, Asir mountains, and surrounding areas. While summer rain is normal in southern Saudi Arabia and Yemen due to tropical air extending from Africa and the Arabian Sea, the recent storms were stronger and wetter than normal. The storms resulted in 7 casualities!

Videos of Gizan storms:
Video 1
Video 2
Video 3

Cyclone Phet Impact (Part 3 of 3)

June 3rd, 2010

Floooded Oman

Update:
At least 24 people have died in Oman due to Cyclone Phet

Update:
Cyclone Phet is leaving Oman now and moving to Pakistan. It will reach Pakistan late Sat/early Sunday as a weak tropical storm/depression and not a cyclone. Parts of SE Iran could get some rain from the storm as well.
Phet also caused high waves along UAE east coast.

Update:
Cyclone Phet made landfall over Oman eastern coast. Now it is over the interior regions of eastern Oman. Highest rainfall so far more than 300mm, with Sur getting around 250mm of rain.

Phet inside Oman

Eye of Cyclone Phet is nearing lanfall at Oman Coast

The eye of Phet makes landfall on Oman eastern coast:

Where? Somwhere between north of Masirah island and Sur city. But clouds extending 200 to 300 Km outside the eye will gurantee storm conditions in all of Oman eastern coast regardless whether the eye hits or not. The eye right now is very close to Masirah island and it must be incredibly stormy there now.
When: the eye of Phet will make landfall during the first 12 hours of Friday. But stormy conditions have already started gaining momentum in most of Oman eastern coasts as storm clouds extend at least 200 Km outside of the eye.

Red coastline is prone to a direct hit from the eye of cyclone Phet

How much rain for Oman?
anywhere from 100 mm to 500mm or much more accumulation of rain over Phet path.

Winds?
The eye will pack winds between 150 Km/hr and possibly closer to 200 Km/hr. Many areas of eastern Oman will experience winds around 100 Km/hr.

Tornadoes as well?
Yes why not, cyclones do produce tornadoes sometimes

Storm surge?
High storm surge and huge waves to batter Oman eastern coast. Large waves (but not as severe) could also reach UAE east coast.

What does the eye pack?
The area surrounding the eye (eye wall) contains the higest winds and the strongest thunderstorms (probably right now on earth) with flooding rain and huge storm surge. Wherever the eye hits, it is a total mess.

Cyclone “Phet” in the Arabian Sea (Part 2 of 3)

June 2nd, 2010

Jun 3rd 10AM GMT update:
Phet clouds have started bringing heavy rain and gusty winds to a large part of coastal Oman especially Masirah island. Dangerous weather conditions to affect the area there.

Most models predict Phet to move NE soon after entering Oman, but there are signs from US models it will continue moving NW, multiplying the amount of rain falling over Oman.

Jun 3 9AM GMT update:
Cyclone Phet to make landfall on the eastern coast of Oman (as a category2-4) Friday AM around the area of Maisrah island, then its expected to move over the coast towards Sur. But heavy rain and high winds will extend 200 or 300 Km around the eye.

Jun 3 4AM GMT update
Cyclone Phet to make landfall on Oman eastern coast tonight (thu Jun 3) as a weaker category 2 or 3 cyclone but still very dangerous.

June2, 3PM GMT update:
Cyclone Phet to hit Oman as a full fledged category 3-5 cyclones with destruction possible around the path of the eye.

Phet updated track

Jun 2, 1PM GMT update:
Cyclone Phet to graze Oman coast as a category 5 cyclone. Even if the eye (which packs winds more than 220 Km/hr) stays offshore, the clouds extending out of the cyclone will hit easternmost Oman. There is a small possibility that the eye makes landfall over easternmost Oman, bringing deadly weather conditions!

June 2, 8AM GMT:
Cyclone Phet (category 3 now) and will reach category 4 on Thu Jun 3, 2010.

Phet will either
1- move NW very close to Oman easternmost coast, bring heavy rain, high winds, and high waves to easternmost Oman, or
2- make landfall over easternmost coast of Oman with destructive winds, flooding rain, and significant storm surge to a large part of eastern Oman.

June 2, 6AM GMT update:
Cyclone Phet will soon be a category 4 cyclone. Potential impact on Oman.

Cyclone Phet is expected to take one of 2 possible scenarios:
1- stay offshore Oman coast and curve NE towarda pakistan
2- continue moving NW and make landfall on Oman east coast, before curving NE towarda Pakistan

Nevertheless, Oman east coast is under the threat of heavy rain, gusty winds, and high waves even if the cyclone stays offshore.

June 1st evening update:
Tropical storm Phet in the Arabian Sea is now upgraded to a cyclone . It packs winds of 120 km/hr or more around its centre. Pakistan and india are likely targets. But I can’t rule out a few side effects on Oman.

June 1 st update:
Cyclone Phet will continue moving N/NW during the next 24 hours, before curving NE towards Pakistan/Indian coasts. It is expected to strengthen to potentially category 2 cyclone. Wherever the eye makes landfall, severe damage due to destructive winds and flooding rain is possible. Meanwhile, easternmost of Oman could get affected by some rainy clouds, fresh winds, and high waves.