Tag Archives: Muscat

Tropical Cyclone Shaheen/Gulab Moves West over Gulf of Oman

Tropical Cyclone Shaheen/Gulab moved west over the Gulf of Oman on Saturday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Cyclone Shaheen/Gulab was located at latitude 24.3°N and longitude 59.0°E which put it about 70 miles (110 km) north-northeast of Muscat, Oman. Shaheen/Gulab was moving toward the west at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 979 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Shaheen/Gulab was over the Gulf of Oman on Saturday night. Winds blowing around the southwestern part of Shaheen/Gulab appeared to be pulling drier air over Oman into the southern and eastern part of the tropical cyclone. A small eye was present at the center of circulation. The was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms, but there was a break in the southeastern part of the ring of storms. The strongest thunderstorms were occurring in a band on the western side of Tropical Cyclone Shaheen/Gulab. Bands in the southern and eastern parts of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. The circulation around Shaheen/Gulab was small. Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 15 miles (25 km) from the center of circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) from the center.

Tropical Cyclone Shaheen/Gulab will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 12 hours. Shaheen/Gulab will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29˚C. It will move under the middle of an upper level ridge over Southwest Asia. The upper level winds are weak near the middle of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. However, dry air from Oman could continue to limit the development of thunderstorms in the southern and eastern parts of Shaheen/Gulab. Tropical Cyclone Shaheen/Gulab could strengthen during the next 12 hours. If more drier air reaches the core of Shaheen/Gulab, the remainder of the eyewall could weaken. That would reduce the maximum sustained wind speed.

Tropical Cyclone Shaheen/Gulab will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over Southwest Asia. The high will steer Shaheen/Gulab toward the west during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Gulab could approach the coast of Oman near Sohar in 18 hours. Shaheen/Gulab will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to the part of Oman around Sohar. Heavy rain could cause flash floods. Tropical Cyclone Shaheen/Gulab will weaken quickly when it moves inland.

Tropical Cyclone Shaheen/Gulab Strengthens to Equivalent of Hurricane/Typhoon

Tropical Cyclone Shaheen/Gulab strengthened to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon over the Arabian Sea on Friday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Cyclone Shaheen/Gulab was located at latitude 24.0°N and longitude 62.1°E which put it about 240 miles (390 km) east of Muscat, Oman. Shaheen/Gulab was moving toward the west-northwest at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 979 mb.

The India Meteorological Department renamed Tropical Cyclone Gulab as Tropical Cyclone Shaheen when it re-intensified over the Arabian Sea. Shaheen/Gulab intensified to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon east of Oman on Friday night. An eye formed at the center of Tropical Cyclone Shaheen/Gulab. The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Outside the core of Shaheen/Gulab the strongest thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the southern half of the tropical cyclone. Bands in the northern half of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 20 miles (30 km) from the center of circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) from the center.

Tropical Cyclone Shaheen/Gulab will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 12 hours. Shaheen/Gulab will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29˚C. It will move under the middle of an upper level ridge over Southwest Asia and the northern Arabian Sea. The upper level winds are weak near the middle of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Cyclone Shaheen/Gulab could intensify during the next 12 hours. Dry air from Southwest Asia could limit the development of thunderstorms in the northern half of Shaheen/Gulab. If the drier air reaches the core of Tropical Cyclone Shaheen/Gulab, it could weaken during the weekend.

Tropical Cyclone Shaheen/Gulab will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over Southwest Asia. The high will steer Shaheen/Gulab toward the west during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Gulab could approach the coast of Oman west of Muscat in 36 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Gulab Redevelops over the Arabian Sea

Tropical Cyclone Gulab redeveloped over the Arabian Sea on Thursday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Cyclone Gulab was located at latitude 22.8°N and longitude 65.1°E which put it about 175 miles (280 km) south-southwest of Karachi, Pakistan. Gulab was moving toward the west at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 994 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Gulab redeveloped over the Arabian Sea south of Pakistan on Thursday. Gulab originally formed over the northern Bay of Bengal a few days ago. Gulab made landfall on the coast of India near Tekkali and then it moved westward across India. Even though Tropical Cyclone Gulab weakened after it made landfall, the circulation remained relatively intact because of a favorable upper level environment. There was not a lot of vertical wind shear. In fact, upper level divergence continued to pump away mass and allow the surface low pressure system to persist. The circulation began to intensify as Gulab approached the Arabian Sea and it strengthened once the low level center was back over water.

The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Gulab exhibited more organization on Thursday. More thunderstorms developed in bands revolving around the center of Gulab. The strongest thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the southern half of Tropical Cyclone Gulab. Bands in the northern half of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. The northern half of Gulab appeared to be pulling drier air from Asia into its circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 140 miles (220 km) on the northern side of Tropical Cyclone Gulab. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 60 miles (95 km) on the southern side of the circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Gulab will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 36 hours. Gulab will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29˚C. It will move under the middle of an upper level ridge over Southwest Asia and the northern Arabian Sea. The upper level winds are weak near the middle of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Dry air from Asia could continue to limit the development of thunderstorms in the northern half of Gulab. Tropical Cyclone Gulab will intensify during the next 36 hours and it could strengthen to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon.

Tropical Cyclone Gulab will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over Southwest Asia. The high will steer Gulab toward the west during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Gulab could approach the coast of Oman near Muscat in 60 hours.