ISTANBUL — A high-impact tropical cyclone in the Arabian Sea is expected to strengthen and become a super cyclonic storm by the end of the weekend, threatening Yemen and Oman early next week, the UN meteorological agency cautioned on Saturday.
"There is a fear that the storm will trigger significant flooding and related severe impacts such as mudslides and infrastructural damages," the World Meteorological Organization said about Cyclone Chapala.
Such a storm in the region was "very rare", the agency said.
At its peak, the storm will be the equivalent of a category 4 hurricane. However, due to dry air and lower ocean thermal energy, when it makes landfall around midnight Sunday, it will weaken to the equivalent of a category 1 or 2 hurricane, with wind speeds of about 150 kilometres per hour.
The area where the cyclone is expected to make landfall is fairly sparsely populated and does not contain much key infrastructure, like ports.
"The most serious impacts are expected from the very heavy anticipated rainfall in the next four to five days," the agency explained.
Drainage systems in the region will likely not be able to cope with the amount of rain, it warned.
"Since cyclones in this area are extremely unusual, it's highly likely that strong to gale force winds will also have a significant impact, particularly offshore and in coastal areas."
Warnings have been issued in Oman for flash floods and high waves.