Oman to bear brunt of Tropical Storm Hikaa

Heavy rain and gale expected to hit the country's coast and move westward

The weather forecast for Tuesday, when Tropical Storm Hikaa is due to make landfall in Oman. Courtesy National Centre of Meteorology

Tropical Storm Hikaa will make landfall in Oman on Tuesday, bringing gale and heavy rain that will likely  cause flooding.

The country's Public Authority for Civil Aviation warned residents and Omanis to take all necessary safety precautions and stay away from low lying areas.

Up to 8cm of rain is expected across the country as the storm moves westward along the coast.

Winds with speeds of up to 100kph will batter the Al Sharqiya and Al Wusta Governorates, Paca said on Wednesday.

Fishermen and seafarers were advised to remain inland and follow the latest updates from the country's National Multi Hazard Early Warning Centre.

Meanwhile, the UAE's official forecasters said the country would feel no direct effect from Hikaa over the next three days.

The National Centre for Meteorology said there would be some surge over the Eastern coast, near Fujairah, and some related high tide on Wednesday morning, however.

On Tuesday, the bureau said Hikaa had intensified over the Arabian Gulf and become a Category 1 Tropical Cyclone — with wind speeds of up to 153kph. But storms typically lose strength when they approach land and the bureau said it would weaken into a tropical storm before making landfall in Oman.

UAE residents can expect cooler temperatures over the next three days, likely a result of the storm.

Temperatures will range from 26°C  to 40°C along the coast, where humidity will be between 30 and 90 per cent.

Inland, the mercury will rise to 45°C but drop to 25°C in the evenings while in the mountains, temperatures are forecast to range from 23°C to 32°C.

Humidity levels across the country will rise overnight but mountainous regions will feel the least sticky with a range of 10 per cent to 65 per cent expected.

Brisk winds of up to 40kph will keep conditions fresh, the bureau said.

Eastern and southern areas of the UAE may experience some rain on Thursday and Friday — possibly as a result of Hikaa passing over Oman.