Cyclone Phet: Heavy rains hit Oman

KARACHI: Heavy rainfall with stormy winds related to tropical cyclone Phet hitting the coast of the Gulf state of Oman on Thursday, but weakened from an ominous Category 4 storm down to a Category 2, will recurve to Pakistan coastal belt in coming two days. “Phet is now at Category 2 hitting Masirah Island with a wind speed of 150 km/h and wave heights of about 8 metres,” an Omani meteorological official told foreign news agency.“However, at mainland in Ras Hadd (eastern region), the wind speed is much less at 85 km/h, and we expect it to drop further on Saturday as it moves away from Oman,” he said.Tropical cyclone Phet in the Arabian Sea is losing intensity and will cross Oman coast later today, the India Meteorological Department said on its website.The storm will pack winds with speed reaching as high as 140 kilometers at the time of landfall, the weather office said.The cyclone will then weaken, "recurve" northeastwards and emerge into the North Arabian sea tonight and move toward Pakistan coast, the bureau said.The cyclone will hit the coasal belt of Sindh and Baluchistan on Sunday with weaken intensity. Sporadic rainfall related to the system will continue in coastal areas upto coming Tuesday