Tropical Cyclone Tej is dumping water in the desert
Today’s Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features Tropical Cyclone Tej as it approached the Arabian Peninsula on October 23, 2023.
“The VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) sensor on the NOAA-20 satellite acquired this image of the storm at approximately 10:00 Universal Time on October 23 as it began to move over land,” said NASA.
“The storm is forecast to weaken rapidly upon making landfall and meeting the cool, dry air over the peninsula. Still, it threatens to drop up to 500 millimeters (20 inches) of rain in some locations. In a region that receives less than 100 millimeters (4 inches) on average in an entire year, intense rains can cause damaging flash floods.”
“In southern Yemen, authorities declared a state of emergency and suspended schools. In Salalah, Oman, the port was temporarily shut down and a hospital evacuated because of the storm, according to news reports.”
Cyclonic storms in the Arabian Sea were once considered rare, but have become more common in the last decade. This is likely the result of rising ocean temperatures.
Tropical Cyclone Tej made landfall over the southern coast of Al Mahrah Governorate in eastern Yemen on October 24. According to media reports, at least seven people have died and more than 1,000 people have been displaced.
The storm is expected to produce heavy rainfall in desert regions of eastern Yemen and western Oman on Wednesday.
Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory
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