Fujairah residents awoke this morning (Wednesday 6 June 2007) to a beautiful sunny day, generally clear skies and a light breeze.UAE authorities said Cyclone Gonu was moving along the coast of Oman last night (Tuesday 5 June 2007) and weather experts said the storm appeared to be weakening and moving north through a major shipping channel towards Iran.
Tropical cyclone Gonu is expected to enter parts of the UAE on Wednesday 6 June 2007, generating thunderstorms, heavy rain, and high winds almost all over the country. The conditions are expected to remain for at least three days.
Winds were hitting the Omani coast at 8.00am Wednesday at a speed of 148kph. They are expected to gust at 100 kilometres per hour when the cyclone enters the UAE, said a senior meteorologist at the UAE Met Department.
The CNN reported this morning that Cyclone Gonu will weaken rapidly (down to 63kph) and continue to lose its intensity in the next 48 hours as it interacts with the land. It was not expected that the eye of the storm would reach landfall.
UAE residents were being told not to panic.
A meteorologist said that people should be alert particularly in Fujairah and hilly areas as a threat of flash floods cannot be ruled out.
The high winds and high tides expected this afternoon will be the critical period, especially for homes and buildings near the beaches.
Geoff Pound
Image: Waves are not high at the moment but appear as a liquid escalator as they descend into the beach.
