Tropical Cyclone Shaheen/Gulab Makes Landfall in Oman

Tropical Cyclone Shaheen/Gulab made landfall on the north coast of Oman on Sunday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Cyclone Shaheen/Gulab was located at latitude 23.6°N and longitude 57.1°E which put it about 25 miles (40 km) southwest of Al Suwaiq, Oman. Shaheen/Gulab was moving toward the west-southwest at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 985 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Shaheen/Gulab made landfall on the north coast of Oman near Al Suwaiq on Sunday. Shaheen-Gulab was the equivalent of a strong tropical storm at the time of landfall. It was producing gusty winds and dropping heavy rain on parts of the northern coast of Oman. There were already reports of flash flooding causing casualties and damage in northern Oman. Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 80 miles (130 km) from the center of circulation. The was a ring of thunderstorms around the center and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of the tropical cyclone.

Tropical Cyclone Shaheen/Gulab will move south of a high pressure system over Southwest Asia. The high will steer Shaheen/Gulab toward the west-southwest during the next 36 hours. Tropical Cyclone Shaheen/Gulab will weaken steadily as it moves over mountains in northern Oman. Shaheen/Gulab will continue to drop locally heavy rain over the normally dry region during the next day or so and more flash floods are likely to occur.

It is very rare for a tropical cyclone to thread the needle and move so far to the west over the Gulf of Oman. The small size of Tropical Cyclone Shaheen/Gulab allowed much of its circulation to remain over the warm water in the Gulf of Oman. Drier air over Iran and the Arabian Peninsula was confined to the periphery of the circulation. The inner core of Shaheen/Gulab remained intact. Tropical Cyclone Shaheen was even more unusual because it started as Tropical Cyclone Gulab over the Bay of Bengal.