Hiiraan Online
Friday October 12, 2018
BOSSASO (HOL) – The United Nations Food and agriculture organization issued a new tropical storm watch Friday for parts of northern Somalia as Storm LUBAN is expected to lead to winds of medium strength with moderate rainfall.
According to the alert issued by FAO, the tropical storm that developed in the northern Indian Ocean is expected to make a land fall in Yemen in 3 to 4 days, raising the possibility of strong winds with heavy rains that could hit the nearby northern Somalia coastal areas.
Bari, the largest region in the semiautonomous state of Puntland and Sanaag, a region in the neighboring Somaliland territory which is located a long coastline facing the Gulf of Aden to the north are the two specific areas that are expected to experience moderate rains and winds of low to medium strength, according to the alert.
“The storm poses an immediate threat to the shipping lane that links Somalia and Gulf states. Further, it may affect the coastal areas of Bari and Sanaag regions of Somalia in the next 48 to 72 hours from today (12 October 2018).” FAO said in the alert.
Meanwhile, the agency has advised residents in the areas along the northern Somalia coast to take the necessary precautions since the winds associated with the tropical storm might lead to destruction of weak structures. Flash floods are also foreseen in these areas.
According to separate cyclone alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (RSMC) on Wednesday, the Severe Cyclonic Storm moved northwestwards with a speed of 07kmph during past six hours and lay centered at 1430 hrs IST 10th October 2018 over west central Arabian Sea.