Cyclone Gonu at Mid-Afternoon in Fujairah, UAE

By early afternoon the tide was high, covering the beaches completely and the waves were noticeably higher than at midday.

At 3.30pm it seemed a switch had been turned and spectators and residents were starting to feel the strength of the wind being driven by Cyclone Gonu. It quickly developed to the strength that would blow off your hat or head scarf.

Many businesses and shops closed this afternoon to enable workers to return home and batten down the hatches.

Colleges and schools were making noises about closing for Thursday.

Emails have been circulating around the UAE networks containing Emergency Do Lists.

Geoff Pound

Image: Evidence of railings torn off, water gushing onto the back lawn and waves increasing in height and strength in the background.

Cyclone Gonu: Causing Damage to Fujairah Properties

Some of the Fujairah owners of beach residences are reporting water in their homes.

One home had a railing hurled by the waves through the glass windows that overlook the sea.

Geoff Pound

Cyclone Gonu: Water Advances Around Fujairah Beach Residences

Some of the beach side homes appeared as islands, completely surrounded by water.

Geoff Pound

Cyclone Gonu Floods Fujairah Properties: 3pm Wednesday 6 June 2007

By 3pm Wednesday 6 June 2007, many of the Fujairah beach residences had water emerging at the front gate with their properties filling with sand, water and debris.

In this picture of water in a couple of backyards, the sea is to the right.

Geoff Pound

Cyclone Gonu: A Matter of Waiting and Hoping

Here are some Fujairah beach residents watching the water entering their properties adjacent to the sea and hoping.

Wednesday 6 June 2007 3.00pm

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Cyclone Gonu Closes Roads in UAE: 3pm Wednesday 6 June 2007

By 3pm Wednesday 6 June 2007, the waves were coming onto the road and the Fujairah police have now closed off the north bound lane of the road from the Fujairah Medical Centre-Hikma Pharmacy, probably until the Beach Motel.

Geoff Pound

Images: Water and debris on the north bound lane to Khor Fakkan;

Police and helpers in the process of closing the road.

High Waves Appearing on Fujairah Beach

At 1.00pm Wednesday 6 June 2007 the tide was surging powerfully onto the Fujairah beach.

The waves were much higher than at seven this morning.

The established breakwaters are being breached in places as well as the first row of the beach barricades that were constructed yesterday.

Residents from homes on the beach were standing on the balconies willing the cyclone to alter its course.

It feels like the wind is starting to get up.

Geoff Pound

Images: Waves getting higher; Breakwaters beginning to be breached.

Cyclone Gonu Approaching the UAE

At 12.40pm on Wednesday 6 June 2007 the mosques were sending forth the midday call to prayer but there were few of the devout to be seen.

The skin pores were signaling that it was 40+ degrees, the breeze was light and it was starting to become overcast.

The submerged car park that was yesterday looking like an ice ring was rippling with waves. The water was within twenty feet of the main road and huge channels were pouring through pipes underneath the road and quickly filling up areas designed for storm water.

Geoff Pound
Images: Storm water Drains filling up fast; Fujairah Beach car park

Beautiful Morning in Fujairah but Anticipating High Winds and High Tides

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.

Barricades on the Fujairah Beach on Wednesday

These are photos taken at 8.00am on Wednesday 6 June 2007.

Earth moving equipment worked overnight to reinforce the barriers with truck loads of rocks in advance of the anticipated high waves and high tides this afternoon as Cyclone Gonu moves north.

Geoff Pound

Images: Double rows of rocky barriers with car park in the background and sunny skies; the beach house residence behind the barricades.