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Relief as Met office allays fears of cyclone

MUSCAT -- The Directorate-General of Meteorology and Air Navigation has reassured residents of Oman that there is no weather event of significance that could affect the Sultanate on May 27, as was reported by some local newspapers last week.

The Directorate-General has also said that it is constantly monitoring weather activities over the Arabian Sea using satellite imagery, numerical weather products and observation data.

The Dubai Meteorological Office is also not forecasting a tropical storm for the region and forecasters say they have not received any advisory from the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre which monitors the world's oceans for such events.

"We have been seeing some unsettled weather in Socotra Island in southeast of Yemen. There's some cloud and thunderstorms there which could be triggering the other warning, but nothing we would recognise as a tropical storm," a forecaster said.

However, the Met office would be "keeping an eye on developments", he added.

Earlier, a forecast from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), had warned of the possibility of a storm hitting the Oman/Yemen coast on May 28-29.

The possibility of a storm has become the subject of so much talk, that people have been gearing up to face an imminent shortage of water and other essential items of daily use.

Supermarket vendors and pharmacists say there has been a spurt in the sale of bottled water, rice, wheat flour and medicines in the last couple of days since the warning was issued.

"I've never seen such a rush for bottled water," says a salesman at a popular supermarket in the city. "Ever since the possibility of a storm was announced, people have been envisaging the possibility of having to stay at home for days on end, and so they are stocking up on things that they might need," he added.

"I still remember last year, during Gonu, when we had no water for days on end," said Wahid, a resident of Al Ghubra. "It was really tough, in the searing heat, to go and fetch water from outside. There was no water to drink, forget cook and bathe. In case such a thing happens this year, we want to be prepared and so we are buying water and a few other essential commodities in bulk to store at home," he added.

"I have old-aged parents at home and it is necessary to stock up on medicines for them, in case nothing becomes available during the impending storm," said Nausheen, a housewife in Muttrah. "So I have been to the chemist and purchased medicines that they would need, in bulk, as well as a few basic medicines, should any of us fall ill during the period," she added.

A few schools in the city have even mooted the possibility of an early summer vacation for students, should the storm strike. "We don't want our kids to be in trouble. One can never tell what may happen. The memory of last year is still too fresh," said a teacher of one of the Indian schools here.

But now, with the reassurance from the authorities, are people relieved? "Well yes, it's a big relief that we don't have to face a storm this year," said Fahad, a resident of Ruwi. "But then, with nature, one can never tell. It is always better to be prepared."

By Anita Joseph

© Times of Oman 2008