Perilous Times and Climate Change
Powerful Cyclone Phet heads for Oman, Pakistan
Torrential rain and hurricane force winds were forecast for the eastern
coast of Oman as Cyclone Phet, a Category 4 storm with maximum
sustained winds of 145 mph and gusts up to 170 mph bore down on the
sultanate’s coast Wednesday.
Oman’s government was sending aircraft to evacuate residents of Masirah
Island, according to a GulfNews.com report from Oman.
Gulf News said the storm was not expected to hit the Omani mainland but
veer to the northeast. It would be close enough however to bring
torrential rain and hurricane force winds to the coast.
Residents were crowding supermarkets and stores to stock up on supplies
to ride out the storm, Gulf News reported, and Oman’s Directorate
General of Meteorology and Air Navigation department advised fishermen
to stay in port.
Wunderground.com forecast Phet would move along the Omani coast
Thursday and then head across the Arabian Sea to Pakistan.
Phet threatens Oman’s coast three years after Tropical Cyclone Gonu, a
Category 5 storm, roared along the sultanate’s coast, dropping eight
inches of rain that turned streets into rivers in the capital of Muscat.
At least 28 deaths were blamed on Gonu.