Some of the driest parts of the world, Yemen and Oman, are expected to receive eight years’ worth of rain in just two days over the weekend. Very severe cyclone Chapala that is running away from the Indian coast and heading rapidly towards Oman is most likely to give medium to heavy rainfall by Saturday.
The very severe cyclonic storm Chapala is expected to gain momentum in next 24-48 hours and is likely to become extremely severe cyclonic storm. Possible flooding is expected to lash southern parts of Oman including Dhofar and Wusta by the weekend.
Salalah, Oman—the country’s second largest city with about 200,000 people—could bear the brunt of the storm. Chapala’s biggest threat here includes torrential rain.
Cyclone Chapala could become the first hurricane-strength storm in recorded history to make landfall in Yemen, and may surpass 2007’s cyclone Gonu that made a landfall near Muscat, Oman. It was the strongest storm ever recorded to hit the Arabian Peninsula at category 3 strength.
Image Credit: timesofoman.com
