Cyclone Mekunu: 5 YEARS of rain within 3 days, 2 years in 24 hours for Salalah, Oman

Written by Mark Vogan on May 31, 2018 in Asia, Rest of World with 0 Comments

The city of Salalah on Oman’s south coast is a deceiving and interesting place. Salalah is Oman’s 2nd largest city after Muscat and sits on southeast edge of the Arabian peninsula with Indian Ocean to it’s south and steep mountains to it’s immediate north and this is why it’s not as hot as it’s northern neighbours.

It’s also surprisingly cloudy during the summer thanks to the indirect influences of the Indian monsoon. Despite having a hot, desert climate and being in a monsoon zone, it only receives about 5 inches of rain a year.

Credit: Bruno Le Bansais

This city was hit hard by recent Cyclone Mekunu which formed over southern India and rapidly intensified over warm water before coming ashore as a cat 3 equivalent cyclone.

Credit:
IstandWithQatar.org @IstandWithQatar

While wind and waves were a big factor, the prolific rainfall produced by Mekunu was the most destructive part of this event.

Credit:
IstandWithQatar.org @IstandWithQatar

Credit: Nicos Triantis @NTriantis

In total and within a 3 day period, as much as 24 inches of rain fell on the city. That’s 5 years worth of rain. Within 24 hours, 10.9 inches of rain fell, that’s over 2 years worth.