How rare is it for a cyclone to hit the Middle East?

Question

I know of a 1970 storm which made a MESS of things over there, but now they seem to be getting hammered again.

How come the Middle East doesn't suffer from these storms like the rest of the world's countries do?

Answer 1

The Middle East, and in particular the Desert regions of the Persian gulf, often experience sand storms, which are called, "Shamaals" and are quite common occurances. Some of these cause damage to property and people. You just don't hear about these, but these storms do happen never the less.

Rain storms are also quite common during winter. The cold air from the mountains of Iran crosses over the Gulf of Hormouz. These rains cause a lot of Flash floods. But we just never hear of it.

A major cyclone is a rare occurance, but its not uncommon. They have had a really big one 45 years ago. We just never heard about it because this region was not that well known.

This GONU cyclone is coming through the region as a result of the the heavy Monsoon winds which gather in the Indian ocean at this time of the year and usually bring a ton of rain to the Indian sub-continent. The Persian gulf does not feel the impact of the Monsoons because it is too far away. Sometimes Oman, which is at the southern tip of the Persian Gulf, experiences periods of high humidity when there are heavy rains over the Indian subcontinent.

Every once in a while, the Monsoon belt might spread out unsually and gets caught up by the dry winds of this region. Thus you have the unusual tropical storms like this cyclone which is coming over Oman right now. Rare, but not unusual.

Answer 2

They get tropical cyclone every year in the Indian Ocean region where the Middle East is but the majority of the cyclones turn west and hit Africa instead

Answer 3

Ever hear of a sand storm, a typhoon, a tsunami? As far as I can see, storms are the same all over, but with different names.

Answer 4

VERY rare. Let's just hope that this new one doesn't give Big Oil new excuses to steal even MORE money from us at the pump!

Answer 5

pretty rare but with global warming, anythings possible. since past decade stormes are getting worse and earth is getting hotter.