Dangerous flash floods: Cyclone Tej devastates Yemen

Cyclone Tej drove in hurricane-force winds, dangerous swells and enormous amounts of rain, triggering flash flooding in Yemen.

A tropical cyclone hit the Arabian Peninsula and has had catastrophic consequences in some areas, equivalent to a category 1 or 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

With average wind speeds over 90 mph and gusts over and gusts of over 120 mph in places, Cyclone Tej reached the border region between Yemen and Oman on Monday evening, 23rd October.

The torrential rainfall is expected to have a far worse impact on the region than the hurricane-force winds however, with up to 500 mm of rain falling within 24 hours across eastern Yemen and the coastal city of Al-Ghaida.

Violent thunderstorms associated with the cyclone remain almost stationary for hours, as seen on the WeatherRadar above. This is due to the warm, moist and unstable air forced to rise against the mountain slopes, continually supplying the thunderstorms with renewed energy.

In the desert region, rainfall of this magnitude can be devastating. The soil of sand and stone doesn't absorb much water, leading to a high surface run-off. Dry river valleys can turn into torrential and dangerous mudflows.