A tropical depression is expected to reach Oman on Wednesday and forecasters insist it will have no effect on the UAE. Forecasters said on Sunday that they are monitoring the system, that has developed into a tropical depression, and have seen indications that it will likely dissipate when it makes landfall. “It is now a depression that is expected to intensify to a tropical storm,” said Mohammed Alebri, director of meteorology at the National Centre for Meteorology. “The weather prediction models show that it will go north, northwest towards the southern parts of Oman and Yemen. It is likely to reach on Wednesday but there will be no direct impact on the UAE because once the tropical storm reaches land it will decline [in strength].” Rain reported in eastern parts of the UAE on Saturday and the high humidity levels forecast over the next few days were not related to the storm, forecasters said. Mr Alebri said the UAE would only be effected by the storm is it changes direction. “A tropical storm can change its path, but we have no indication of that,” he said. He called on residents not to be swayed by misinformation and to rely on official information from the bureau. “We are closely monitoring the situation at NCM. We ask people to follow our reports, weather bulletins on our website and on social media twitter and to keep away from rumours.” When the storm hits land, it will likely cause rain. “There is possibility of cloud formation so when the moist, warm air reaches the area it may cause some rain there,” he said. The current speed of the storm is 9 kilometres per hour and the wind speed at the centre of the depression is between 30 to 50kph, he said. _______________ <strong>Read more:</strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/uae/storm-watch-begins-as-cyclone-heads-towards-oman-1.777676">Storm watch begins as cyclone heads towards Oman</a></strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/death-toll-from-cyclone-mekunu-rises-to-30-1.736452">Death toll from Cyclone Mekunu rises to 30</a></strong> _______________ Some 67 cyclones and tropical storms have formed over the Arabian Sea since 1945. Most storms made landfall on the Oman coast or hit Pakistan, while the rest declined over the sea. A cyclone is formed in specific conditions when the temperature of the sea is at more than 26.5°C. When the warm, wet air rises, it condenses to form clouds and heavy rain creating a low pressure zone near the water surface. The air surrounding the low pressure zone at the centre spirals out at high speeds triggering stronger winds and causing the cyclone to grow stronger.