UK Meteorological Department has cautioned of devastating cyclone heading to Somalia and its neighbouring war-torn Yemen within the next 24 hours.
Met Office said the tropical cyclone is expected to develop at the eastern end of the Gulf of Aden and bring exceptionally high rainfall totals to a usually very arid region.
The forecast said the cyclone is likely to follow a westward along northern Somali coastline, leading to uncertainty about its likely intensity.
The office said the powerful tropical cyclone was witnessed in Yemeni Socotra Island and is likely to proceed towards northwestwards.
Due to the imminent cyclone, Northern Somalia will experience exceptionally high rainfall that might cause severe flash flooding across the region.
The statement further noted that the forecast appears to be a severe as the 2013 Somali Cyclone though slightly below the severity of the 2008 Yemen Cyclone.
“It must be stressed that heavy rainfall will cause the most impact the cyclone, with impacts likely in Southern Yemen and much of northern Somalia,” the office said.
The track along the centre of Gulf Aden could allow significant strengthening of the winds around the storm.
“In the scenario of a track along the centre of the Gulf of Aden, it looks likely that precipitation totaling between 50-100mm will fall over both the coastal strips of Yemen and Somalia, with a close pass or landfall from this system leading to a risk of rainfall exceeding 250mm,” reads the forecast.
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