Cyclonic Storm Hikaa batters Oman with powerful winds, flooding rain
By
Eric Leister, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Sep 24, 2019 1:40 PM EST
This satellite image of Hikaa shows it along the Oman coastline on Tuesday afternoon, local time. (EUMETSAT/Satellite image)
Dangerous Cyclonic Storm Hikaa made landfall in Oman Tuesday evening, local time, and will continue to cause flooding and locally damaging winds across the region through Wednesday.
AccuWeather Lead International Meteorologist Jason Nicholls said the center of the storm pushed ashore near Duqm, Oman, on the country's central coastline.
Hikaa formed in the Arabian Sea just west of India on Sunday and quickly tracked westward toward Oman while gaining strength.
By Tuesday, Hikaa had become a very severe cyclonic storm with winds equal to a Category 2 hurricane in the Atlantic or East Pacific oceans. The storm has since weakened to the equivalent of a tropical storm since landfall.
Damaging winds will be possible from Ras Madrakah to Al Khaluf as well as Masirah Island.
Heavy rainfall produced by Hikaa will also result in a high risk for flash flooding in these locations.
Hikaa is seen on satellite just before making landfall on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019.
Conditions will improve dramatically with largely dry weather forecast by Wednesday in coastal communities near the point of landfall as the storm tracks west-southwest and moves farther inland.
As Hikaa moves inland, it will weaken quickly, ending the risk for damaging winds; however, flooding rainfall is still expected on Wednesday across the interior of southern Oman with a few downpours potentially spreading across the border in Saudi Arabia.
Locations from Haima to Ubar and Thabhloten will be at risk for these flooding downpours.
Muscat will avoid any direct impacts from the storm; however, Salalah will be at risk for showers and thunderstorms on Wednesday.
This rainfall may result in localized flooding and travel disruptions.
Hikaa will continue to weaken and likely dissipate by Thursday as downpours become more localized across far southern Oman and eastern Yemen.
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News / Weather News
Cyclonic Storm Hikaa batters Oman with powerful winds, flooding rain
By Eric Leister, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Sep 24, 2019 1:40 PM EST
This satellite image of Hikaa shows it along the Oman coastline on Tuesday afternoon, local time. (EUMETSAT/Satellite image)
Dangerous Cyclonic Storm Hikaa made landfall in Oman Tuesday evening, local time, and will continue to cause flooding and locally damaging winds across the region through Wednesday.
AccuWeather Lead International Meteorologist Jason Nicholls said the center of the storm pushed ashore near Duqm, Oman, on the country's central coastline.
Hikaa formed in the Arabian Sea just west of India on Sunday and quickly tracked westward toward Oman while gaining strength.
By Tuesday, Hikaa had become a very severe cyclonic storm with winds equal to a Category 2 hurricane in the Atlantic or East Pacific oceans. The storm has since weakened to the equivalent of a tropical storm since landfall.
Damaging winds will be possible from Ras Madrakah to Al Khaluf as well as Masirah Island.
Heavy rainfall produced by Hikaa will also result in a high risk for flash flooding in these locations.
Hikaa is seen on satellite just before making landfall on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019.
Conditions will improve dramatically with largely dry weather forecast by Wednesday in coastal communities near the point of landfall as the storm tracks west-southwest and moves farther inland.
As Hikaa moves inland, it will weaken quickly, ending the risk for damaging winds; however, flooding rainfall is still expected on Wednesday across the interior of southern Oman with a few downpours potentially spreading across the border in Saudi Arabia.
Locations from Haima to Ubar and Thabhloten will be at risk for these flooding downpours.
Related:
Muscat will avoid any direct impacts from the storm; however, Salalah will be at risk for showers and thunderstorms on Wednesday.
This rainfall may result in localized flooding and travel disruptions.
Hikaa will continue to weaken and likely dissipate by Thursday as downpours become more localized across far southern Oman and eastern Yemen.
Report a Typo