Muscat got less than 10mm of annual rainfall in 2025
While the Sultanate of Oman recorded varying rainfall totals across its governorates in 2025, Muscat, South Al Sharqiyah, and North Al Batinah Governorates recorded annual rainfall totals of less than 10 mm.
According to rainfall data from the National Multi-Hazard Early Warning of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), observation stations in Dhofar Governorate recorded the highest annual rainfall total, with the Dhalkut observation station recording 379.6 mm. This was mainly associated with persistent drizzle during the Khareef season and the influence of the easterly summer trough “Al-Istibshar”.
Musandam Governorate recorded the second-highest annual accumulated rainfall, with Jabal Harim station recording 266.4 mm, influenced by winter westerly troughs and low-pressure systems. Al Dakhiliyah Governorate followed, with Jabal Shams station recording 173.6 mm, largely associated with summer convective activity over the Al Hajar Mountains.
The data also showed notable variation in monthly accumulated rainfall throughout 2025. The monthly accumulated rainfall was recorded in December, reaching 243.6 mm at the Jabal Harim station in the Musandam Governorate, influenced by the westerly low-pressure system “Al-Khuzam from 13 to 20 December.
The period from June to September also stood out for rainfall totals, driven by Khareef activity in the Dhofar Governorate, summer orographic rainfall over the Al Hajar Mountains, and the influence of the easterly summer trough system “Al-Istibshar”.
In contrast, the lowest monthly accumulated rainfall was recorded in January, April, May, and November, due to the limited occurrence of significant weather systems.
In 2025, two tropical systems formed in the Arabian Sea, but neither had a direct impact on Oman. The first, Category 1 Tropical Cyclone “Shakti,” lasted from 28 September to 7 October. It moved south-southeast, stayed far from the Omani coast, and eventually faded over the central Arabian Sea.
The second case was a tropical depression that formed between 18 and 22 October.
