:2002 Oman cyclone

{{storm path|Cyclone 01A 2002 track.png}}

An area of convection developed on May 2, 2002 near Sri Lanka, associated with a weak and broad circulation center. The system tracked west-northwestward through the Arabian Sea along a trough near the equator. Its thunderstorm activity was enhanced by a ridge to its north, though was also removed from the center. By May 5, the circulation had become better defined, and concurrently the convection increased over the center. After further organization, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) classified the system as Depression ARB01A on May 6.{{cite web|author=Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific|date=2003-03-10|title=2002 Annual Tropical Cyclones Review|publisher=World Meteorological Organization|access-date=2008-07-15|url=http://www.preventionweb.net/files/1527_7895.pdf|format=PDF|archive-date=2016-03-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303181921/http://www.preventionweb.net/files/1527_7895.pdf|url-status=live}} Around the same time, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) classified it as Tropical Depression 01A, while located about {{convert|1300|km|mi|abbr=on}} southeast of Salalah, Oman.

After becoming a tropical cyclone, the depression turned to a northwest motion before resuming a track to the west-northwest. On May 7 it intensified into a deep depression, and though its winds had increased, the structure became disorganized as the center became exposed from the thunderstorm activity. The convection waned, due to the influence of dry air from the Arabian Peninsula, as well as from wind shear. As a result, the IMD downgraded it to depression status early on May 8. However, later in the day, convection redeveloped over the western half of the circulation, and it again reached deep depression status, about {{convert|830|km|mi|abbr=on}} southeast of Oman.

The storm maintained poleward outflow as it continued west-northwestward. Early on May 9 the IMD upgraded the system to a cyclonic storm, estimating winds of {{convert|65|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}} and a pressure of {{convert|994|mbar|inHg|abbr=on}}.{{cite report|author=Kenneth R. Knapp|author2=Michael C. Kruk|author3=David H. Levinson|author4=Howard J. Diamond|author5=Charles J. Neumann|year=2010|work=The International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS): Unifying tropical cyclone best track data|title=2002 Missing (2002126N09068)|publisher=Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society|access-date=2013-10-28|url=http://atms.unca.edu/ibtracs/ibtracs_v03r04/browse-ibtracs/index.php?name=v03r04-2002126N09068|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305082731/http://atms.unca.edu/ibtracs/ibtracs_v03r04/browse-ibtracs/index.php?name=v03r04-2002126N09068|archive-date=2016-03-05|url-status=dead}} Around that time, the storm was estimated by the JTWC to have attained peak winds of 85 km/h (50 km/h), with an atmospheric pressure of 991 mbar.{{cite web|author=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|date=2005-04-10|title=2002 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report|access-date=2008-07-17|url=http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/2002atcr/2002atcr.pdf|format=PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607035604/http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/2002atcr/2002atcr.pdf|archive-date=2011-06-07}} While located a short distance offshore, the storm turned to the northwest and weakened slightly. At about 0900 UTC on May 10, the storm made landfall near Salalah, Oman. Shortly thereafter, it began dissipation over Oman. Its landfall in the Dhofar region of Oman was uncommon; in the period from 1891 to 1990, only 17 tropical depressions or storms struck the region.{{cite web|author=Ahmed Majid Al-Hakmani |year=2006 |title=Flood Control Project in Salalah, Oman |publisher=Regional Centre on Urban Water Management |access-date=2008-07-23 |url=http://www.rcuwm.org.ir/events/workshop/08/files/Oman%20-%20Al-Hakmani-full.pdf |format=PDF }}{{dead link|date=September 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Image:Tropical Cyclone 1B (2002).jpg

Along the coastline, the arrival of the storm resulted in strong waves of up to {{convert|4|m|ft|abbr=off}}. The storm dropped heavy rainfall in the vicinity of its landfall, which were the greatest totals in 30 years in the Dhofar region. The city of Salalah reported {{convert|58|mm|in|abbr=on}} in a 24‑hour period as the storm moved ashore, which was more than 300% of its average monthly for May.{{cite web|author=National Climatic Data Center |date=2002-06-17 |title=Tropical Cyclones in June 2002 |access-date=2008-07-17 |url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2002/may/hazards.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021126054755/http://www0.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2002/may/hazards.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2002-11-26 }} As a result, some flooding was reported in the city, and several wadis, or typically dry riverbeds, became sudden rivers in the area; one station recorded a discharge of 1146 m³/s (40,470 ft³/s). In Qairoon, precipitation amounted to {{convert|251|mm|in|abbr=on}}, which was the highest total in Oman. Severe thunderstorms were reported during its passage, with wind gusts peaking at {{convert|106|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}. In neighboring Yemen, the city of Al Ghaydah reported light winds of about {{convert|45|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}}.{{cite web|author=Gary Padgett|year=2002|title=May 2002 Worldwide Tropical Summary|access-date=2008-07-17|url=http://www.australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2002/summ0205.htm|archive-date=2008-05-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517134748/http://www.australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2002/summ0205.htm|url-status=live}}

Damage was severe and widespread, estimated at $25 million (2002 USD).{{cite web|author=Dartmouth Flood Observatory |date=2003-01-08 |title=2002 Global Register of Extreme Flood Events |access-date=2008-07-17 |url=http://www.dartmouth.edu/~floods/Archives/2002sum.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725134558/http://www.dartmouth.edu/~floods/Archives/2002sum.htm |archive-date=25 July 2008 |url-status=live }} Storm impact included property, crop, transportation, and agricultural damage, with hundreds of cattle drowning during the passage of the storm. Across the Dhofar region of Oman, the storm caused several injuries and a total of nine fatalities; most of the deaths were drownings, occurring when their vehicles were swept away by flooding in typically dry areas.{{cite news|author=Staff Writer|work=Agence-France Presse|date=2002-05-20|title=World must drink treated, desalinated water to make up shortfall: officials}} Two army soldiers and one police officer drowned while saving other people in danger.

In the aftermath of the storm, the Omani government received 4,000 requests for assistance, and in turn provided financial aid to 500 families; additionally, the government supplied temporary housing for displaced people.{{cite news|author=Staff Writer|work=Global News Wire|date=2002-05-27|title=4,000 Requests for Relief Given by Storm Victims}}

{{Portal|Tropical cyclones}}

• List of Arabian Peninsula tropical cyclones
• 1996 Oman cyclone

{{Reflist|2}}

• [http://metnet.imd.gov.in/mausamdocs/45431.pdf Cyclones and depressions over north Indian Ocean during 2002] – report by India Meteorological Department

{{2002 North Indian Ocean cyclone season buttons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2002 Oman cyclone}}

Category:Tropical cyclones in Oman

Oman

Category:Cyclonic storms

Category:Tropical cyclones in 2002