Egypt will not be hit by typhoon: Meteorological official

CAIRO - 26 October 2019: Director of the Egyptian Meteorological Authority Mahmoud Shaheen denied on Saturday what NASA had predicted of an "unusual" tropical cyclone unprecedentedly hitting some parts of Egypt.

Shaheen said that Egypt will not be hit by hurricanes but exposed to tropical depressions, which can be as violent and in-depth as the depression we are currently experiencing.

NASA published a picture showing block of giant clouds approaching Egypt amid warnings of heavy rain and thunderstorms on Friday and Saturday.

The Washington Post said NASA's image suggested an unusual tropical cyclone in some areas of Egypt and Israel, threatening storms and heavy rains and possibly even coastal flooding.

Risk areas

Shaheen said that the tropical depression between Cyprus and the Egyptian coast affects us with rain and wind, and this is what happened in the province of Alexandria this morning is scheduled to continue on the north of the Delta and the rest of the coast of Egypt Northern «Baltim, Port Said, Damietta, Ismailia, Arish and Rafah Central Sinai», these areas are experiencing rain on Saturday.

Shaheen confirmed that moderate rainfall is expected in Cairo and northern Upper Egypt.

The Egyptian Meteorological Authority (EMA) warned officials in coastal areas, Canal cities, Central and North Sinai to take the necessary measures to face the risks that may arise from floods.

Flights cancelled

The General Authority for Meteorology advised to cancel school and other trips to the governorates of the northern coasts, Delta, Canal cities and north and central Sinai on Saturday.

The authority also demanded the cancellation of safari trips and non-residence in the compounds in these areas in order to ensure the safety of citizens and to prevent traffic jams.

The authority also advise citizens in the governorates of the northern coasts, Delta, Canal cities, North and Central Sinai not to be present in places where there is rain as much as possible, except in case of extreme.

The Meteorological Authority called on the citizens to help the concerned authorities in removing the accumulated quantities of water after the rain falls and advises the Authority not to be present under the metal plates or next to the lighting poles and electricity kiosks.

Date of stabilization of weather conditions

The Egyptian Meteorological Authority (EMA) announces to citizens that as of Sunday, 27 October, the weather conditions will improve with light rainfall on the northern coastal areas and central Sinai.

Ashraf Saber Zaki, Acting Chairman of the Egyptian Meteorological Authority, said that the weather instability is expected to continue from Friday October 25 evening for 24 hours.

Zaki explained that the proliferation of low and medium clouds accompanied by rainfall and heavy and thunder on the northern coasts and Alexandria and Rashid and Baltim and Damietta and Arish and Rafah

Zaki said that the governorates of North Sinai, Delta and the cities of Ismailia Canal, Suez and Port Said reach the limit of floods, which leads to disruption of maritime traffic on the Mediterranean

Not out of homes

The cabinet instructed officials in Mediterranean, Delta, Canal and North and Central Sinai cities to raise the state of emergency to the maximum degree in preparation for instability in weather conditions.

The cabinet appealed to citizens to abide by homes on Saturday and count out except in cases of extreme necessity and commitment to drive vehicles quietly, especially on highways.

The warning concerned the people of the northern coastal governorates, the Delta, the Canal cities, and North and Central Sinai, in order to protect their safety and prevent traffic jams and to allow the concerned authorities to remove the accumulated quantities due to the expected heavy rains.

Flood Forecasting

The flood forecasting center affiliated to the Ministry of Irrigation reported that the maps of rain forecasting throughout the country during the next 72 hours showed the continuation of rainfall and may reach 20 mm on North Sinai and the Gulf of Suez and less severe on the northern and western coasts.