170kmph Cyclone Maha to affect UAE, flooding expected

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Dubai - Met department is closely monitoring the situation.

By Ahmed Shaaban

Published: Mon 4 Nov 2019, 3:23 PM

With the 170kmph Cyclone Maha expected to cause water surges in the UAE's east coast, some families are considering moving out temporarily till the storm passes.
The tropical storm had intensified into a category 1 cyclone, with wind speeds of up to 130kmph on Sunday. By Monday, it was forecast to further intensify into a category 2 cyclone with estimated wind speeds of 160-170kmph wind speeds at its centre.
It will affect the UAE from Monday to Wednesday, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM). By Sunday night, the Oman sea was expected to have been rough. "Water surge may affect low land during the period of the high tide over the east coast from Monday to Wednesday," the authority said.
Cities like Kalba (Sharjah), Khor Fakkan (Sharjah) and Dibba (Fujairah) lie on the east coast.

Sunday 3/11/2019, Latest updates of tropical situation #Maha on the Arabian Sea.#national_center_of_meteorology #UAE #tropical_situation pic.twitter.com/nkJS8NUXJn
- ?????? ?????? ??????? (@NCMS_media) November 3, 2019

Mohammed Abdullah, an Emirati based in Dibba Al Fujairah, said he kept his family home because of the unstable weather. "I am even thinking of temporarily moving out and staying with some relatives in another emirate until the end of this tropical storm."
Ashraf Ghanem, an Egyptian resident of Kalba, said he did not send his children to school due to the strong winds. The authorities have reiterated their warnings about avoiding beaches, valleys and dams along the east coast. "It is difficult, and almost impossible for rescue officials to intervene in such extremely tough weather," an official from the Fujairah Civil Defence said. "The sea is very rough, the wind strong, and the waves very high."
Second cyclone in two weeks
This is the second cyclone to impact the UAE in as many weeks. A hotel worker in Dibba Fujairah had drowned after he was caught in the high waves caused by Cyclone Kyarr last week. An overnight storm caused flooding in Sharjah's Kalba city, with authorities having to evacuate 20 families. Schools were closed and roads had to be shut temporarily due to the flooding.
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com