Muscat — Omani authorities have decided that Sunday and Monday (Oct. 3 and 4) will be official holidays nationwide due to bad weather conditions triggered by tropical storm Shaheen.
Oman’s official news agency reported that the decision came due to the adverse climate conditions in the Sultanate and to ensure the safety of public and private employees.
However, the official agency said that private companies might ask their staff to work during the public holiday, only if necessary.
On Friday, Oman’s Civil Aviation Authority warned that tropical storm Shaheen was expected to develop into a category one tropical cyclone within the next 24 hours.
The public is advised to take precautions, steer away from low-lying areas, and avoid crossing wadis or valleys.
From Sunday, the Oman Civil Aviation Authority said that tropical storm Shaheen would directly impact coastal areas, including Muscat.
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The authority has said in their Twitter statement, “The center of the storm is about 650 km away from Muscat, and the nearest convective clouds band associated with the storm is about 500 km away.”
The storm will hit the shore with strong winds and heavy rain on Sunday, causing flash floods and rough seas beginning Saturday evening between south Al-Sharqiya to Musandam, with waves reaching 8 to 12 meters.
