June 3, 2010

  • Phet has made landfall into Oman

    According to the coordinates given in the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC) advisory from 4.00 AM Omani time this morning, Cyclone Phet is here (between Masirah and Sur).

    Phet Landfall

    This is not good news. According to NASA, "Gonu never made landfall in Oman" although "it came very close" (source here). However, according to the JTWC advisory from three hours ago, Phet has made landfall into Oman as a Category 2 storm, with sustained windspeeds at 166 km/h (90 knots) and gusts at 203 km/h (110 knots).This sounds horrendous. I can't imagine what it will be like right now in villages like Ras Al Saqlah and Qurun.

    The JTWC advisory is showing a tracking path going westward, right into Oman, with Muscat being very close to the projected path.

    Phet Warning 14

    The text of the JTWC advisory says that according to all prediction models, Phet "will turn west-ward and loiter over Oman for the next 24 to 36 hours". However, the advisory also says that this is "not likely" as satellite imagery shows that Phet is moving quickly towards the north.

    For the latest updates from the US Joint Typhoon Warning Centre on Cyclone Phet (map of the projected path), click here. For the latest warning JTWC advisory for Phet, click here.

    For the UK-based Tropical Storm Risk, click here and then click on Phet.

    The people on the east coast of Oman need our prayers.