Middle East Newsletter: A Rare Cyclone
High waves break on the sea side promenade in Muscat on October 2
MOHAMMED MAHJOUB / AFP
A storm making its way towards Oman and the United Arab Emirates from the Arabian Sea on Sunday is expected to strengthen into a category 1 tropical cyclone — a rare occurrence in a region through which about a third of the world’s seaborne oil flows.
The storm, with wind speeds of up to 72 miles per hour, prompted the closure of schools, businesses and highways in northern Oman. Parts of capital Muscat are submerged and flights have been suspended.