UAE braces for tropical cyclone Shaheen

The UAE’s National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) said on Saturday that the movement of tropical cyclone Shaheen will continue towards the coast of Oman over the next 24 hours. By the afternoon and evening of Sunday, October 3, some regions of the UAE will be affected by it, especially the eastern regions, which include the Al Ain and the southern regions and extending towards some central regions. In these areas,  convective clouds will increase which are associated with rain that leads to flash flooding in valleys and torrents and water which accumulate over some low areas.

Dr Mohamed Al Abri, spokesman for NCM, said on Saturday that the tropical cyclone ‘Shaheen’ was centered northwest of the Arabian Sea at latitude 24.3 north and longitude 60.9 east, accompanied by various formations of clouds interspersed with cumulus rain clouds of different intensity and strong winds on the Arabian Sea with a speed around the center ranging from 116-140kph, according to UAE official news agency WAM.

“The rain will lead to the flow of valleys, and water will gather in some lowlands. The winds will be active to strong, causing dust, which will reduce horizontal visibility. The cumulus clouds might be accompanied by lightning and thunder sometimes,” said Al Abri.

A Chance of convective clouds formation associated with rainfall and fresh winds and strong at times with speed of 45 km/hr. causing blowing dust and sand reducing the horizontal visibility over some Eastern areas from 05:00 Sunday 03/10/2021 till 23:00 Monday 04/10/2021. pic.twitter.com/jVY4j27H9f

— المركز الوطني للأرصاد (@NCMS_media) October 3, 2021

The UAE’s National, Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) affirmed on Saturday evening the readiness of all state agencies to monitor and deal with the developing weather condition.

“As a precautionary measure and to ensure the safety of everyone, it is prohibited for the public to visit beaches, valleys and lowlands,” said Dr Taher Al Ameri, spokesman for the NCEMA.

“The competent authorities, in coordination with the National Center of Meteorology, are following up on the tropical situation, its movements, and the extent of its impact on various regions of the country. It is expected, according to the forecasts of the National Center for Meteorology and Seismology, that some eastern coastal regions of the country will be affected from tomorrow, Sunday, October 3, until Tuesday, October 5, and the official spokesman for the National Center of Meteorology will give more details about it,” he said.

تغطية حية للحالة المدارية #شاهين في بحر العرب#المركز_الوطني_للأرصاد يتابع الحالة وسوف يوافيكم بالمستجدات #حالة_مدارية #إعصار #بحر_العرب #حالة_جوية #جميع_الظنحاني pic.twitter.com/CFUrLS107v

— المركز الوطني للأرصاد (@NCMS_media) October 3, 2021

He affirmed the continuity of electricity supply and critical operations in all areas which may be potentially impacted by the tropical situation, especially in hospitals and their affiliated facilities. “Directives have been made to remove mobile construction cranes and fast secure volatile objects before the onset of the impact of the tropical cyclone, in order to avoid any injuries,” added Al Ameri.

Some schools in regions where the cyclone is expected to affect have announced a shift distance learning over Sunday and Monday. The Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA) said that private schools and nurseries located in the eastern part of the emirate, which include cities of Khor Fakkan, Kalba and Deba Al-Hisn, will shift to online learning on Sunday and Monday.

Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management said that all educational institutions will operate as normal, except public schools in Hatta where distance learning will be implemented on Sunday and Monday.

Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management confirms educational institutions will operate as normal, except for public schools in Hatta, where distance learning will run on Sunday and Monday. pic.twitter.com/GhhKUKCw0h

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) October 2, 2021