2002 Oman cyclone

Cyclonic Storm ARB 01

Cyclonic storm (IMD scale)
Tropical storm (Saffir–Simpson scale)
Tropical storm prior to landfall
Formed	May 6, 2002
Dissipated	May 10, 2002
Highest winds	3-minute sustained: 65 km/h (40 mph) 1-minute sustained: 85 km/h (50 mph)
Lowest pressure	991 hPa (mbar); 29.26 inHg (Unofficial estimate)
Fatalities	9 total
Damage	$25 million (2002 USD)
Areas affected	Oman, Yemen
Part of the 2002 North Indian Ocean cyclone season

The 2002 Oman cyclone (JTWC designation: 01A, officially known as Cyclonic Storm ARB 01) was an uncommon tropical cyclone that struck the Dhofar region of Oman in May 2002. The first storm of the 2002 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, it developed on May 6 in the Arabian Sea, and it maintained a general west-northwest track for much of its duration. The system reached cyclonic storm status on May 9, meaning it attained winds of greater than 65 km/h (40 mph), and on May 10 it made landfall near Salalah; shortly thereafter it dissipated. The storm was rare, in the sense that it was one of only eleven tropical cyclones on record to approach the Arabian Peninsula in the month of May.

The storm brought the heaviest rainfall totals to Dhofar in 30 years, causing flooding and creating rivers in wadis, or typically dry riverbeds. Several people drowned after their vehicles were swept away by the flooding. The storm caused locally heavy damage, totaling $25 million (2002 USD).

An area of convection developed on May 2, 2002 near Sri Lanka, associated with a weak and broad circulation center. The system tracked west-northwestward through the Arabian Sea along a trough near the equator. Its thunderstorm activity was enhanced by a ridge to its north, though was also removed from the center. By May 5, the circulation had become better defined, and concurrently the convection increased over the center. After further organization, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) classified the system as Depression ARB01A on May 6. Around the same time, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) classified it as Tropical Depression 01A, while located about 1300 km (800 mi) southeast of Salalah, Oman.