Cyclone Shaheen gets closer to Oman, 200 km away from Muscat

Muscat: Oman’s Met Office on Saturday said that the cyclone Shaheeh continues to move towards the coastal areas of Oman and is about 200 km away from the Muscat governorate.

Latest satellite images and weather charts analysis at the National Multi Hazards Early Warning Center

indicates that the center of the tropical cyclone (Shaheen) is located at longitude 60.7 E and latitude 24.5 N.

The tropical cyclone continues to move towards the coastal areas of Oman Sea with estimated surface wind speed around the center between 64 knots (116 km/hr).

The center of the cyclone is about 200 km away from Muscat Governorate and the closest convective clouds band associated with the cyclone is about 80 km.

The indirect impacts of the cyclone have been experienced over the coastal parts of Muscat and South Al Sharqiyah governorates with tidal waves (3-5m) and sporadic rains.

The system is expected to move towards the coastal areas of Al Batinah North governorate, with the direct impact expected to start from tomorrow, Sunday morning time including strong winds (40-60 knots) and torrential rain ranging between 200 and 500 millimeters causing severe flash floods over Governorates of North AL Batinah, South Al Batinah, Muscat, Al Dhahira, Al Buraimi and Al Dakhliya and coastal parts of South Al Sharqiyah.

It may extend to the Governorates of Musandam and North Al Sharqiya with varying amounts of rain (30-80 mm) and wind speed around (15-25 knots).

Sea condition is expected to be very rough over the coastal areas between South Al-Sharqiya to

Musandam Governorates with maximum wave height ranging between 8 and 12 meters. In addition storm surge might cause seawater inundation over low-level coastal areas. The sea state will be moderate to rough along the rest of Omani coasts with maximum wave height between 2 to 3meters.

The Civil Aviation Authority advises the public to take extreme precautions, stay away from the low-lying

areas and avoid crossing wadis. The Authority also advises the fishermen and sea goers to avoid venture into the sea and follow the latest and updated bulletins from the National Multi-Hazard Early Warning Centre.