Salalah, located in the Dhofar Governorate of Oman, has been experiencing continuous rains since the start of the Khareef season. This has led to a drop in temperatures to less than 28 degrees Celsius, in addition to the formation of fog on the mountainous heights. The Sultanate of Oman is currently being affected by varying eastern waves, which are a type of weather conditions that form in tropical and subtropical regions and are laden with humid air masses accompanied by a slight decrease in atmospheric pressure, leading to the possibility of rain and thunderstorms.
Regarding the impact of these waves on the Dhofar Khareef season this year, Ahmed bin Salem Ghawas, Director of the Meteorology Department at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation in Dhofar Governorate, stated that this climatic condition increases the amount of rainfall and is a reason for the increased rains during this season. One of the results of this climatic condition is an increase in the amount of rains of varying intensity, in contrast to the usual rains at this time of year, in addition to thunderstorms in some parts of the governorate, especially desert areas.
The autumn season is characterized by continuous and intermittent drizzle, sometimes accompanied by light rain, and low horizontal visibility. Low clouds also cover the mountains and coastal areas, where the base of these clouds touches the mountains, forming the dense fog that is commonly seen on the mountains. The amount of rain during the autumn season increases in mountainous areas facing the direction of the monsoon winds, with the speed of the southern winds also increasing in mountainous and desert areas.
The scientific name for the autumn phenomenon is “Monsoon”, derived from the Arabic word “season” that was known to Arab and Omani sailors. The main cause of this phenomenon is the monsoon winds caused by the huge seasonal high in the southern Indian Ocean near the island of Madagascar in the southern hemisphere, called the Mascarene High. This high causes the southwest monsoon winds to blow, which turn southwesterly when they cross the equator towards the northern hemisphere.
The direction and speed of the southwesterly winds cause the cold currents to rise from the seabed near the coasts of the governorate, creating a temperature difference between the cold sea water and the land. This temperature difference attracts the monsoon winds towards the governorate, carrying large amounts of water vapour. The warm monsoon winds, loaded with water vapour, condenses as they come into contact with the cold sea water, forming low clouds that cause drizzle and fog to fall in the mountains. The autumn season, which began astronomically on June 21 and continues until September 21, is characterized by cloudy and rainy weather with moderate temperatures that drop further in the high mountainous areas shrouded in fog accompanied by light rain.
Overall, the Khareef season in Salalah, Oman, has been experiencing an increase in rainfall due to the varying eastern waves affecting the region. The combination of climatic conditions, including monsoon winds and temperature differences between the sea and land, has led to the formation of fog and increased rains of varying intensity. Despite the challenges posed by the weather, the autumn season in Dhofar Governorate remains a popular destination for visitors and tourists seeking a unique experience of cloudy, rainy weather combined with moderate temperatures and a scenic mountainous landscape.
