Cyclone Shaheen begins moving away from Muscat

Muscat: Tropical storm Shaheen has gradually begun inching away from the Governorate of Muscat, and is currently headed towards the governorates of South and North Al Batinah.

Abdullah Al-Khadouri, Head of the Meteorological Planning and Development Department told the Oman News Agency, "The tropical storm Shaheen is gradually moving away from the Governorate of Muscat and the cyclone is currently heading towards the governorates of South and North Al Batinah."
Shaheen is likely to cross between the wilayats of Musannah in South Al Batinah Governorate and Sohar in North Al Batinah Governorate between 6 pm and 10 pm , the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), said in its latest bulletin.

The direct impact of tropical cyclone Shaheen continue over the governorates of Muscat and South Al Batinah with very heavy rain, where the highest amount of rain recorded in Muscat is 171 mm and in Al Amerat 135.8 mm.

The latest satellite images and weather charts indicate that tropical cyclone Shaheen is currently centered at 24.1 degrees north latitude and 58.3 degrees east longitude, and continues its movement towards the coasts of the governorates of South and North Al Batinah.The center of the tropical cyclone is about 65 km from the Governorate of Muscat, 110 km from the Wilayat of Musannah and 190 km from the Wilayat of Sohar and the wind speed around the center is estimated at 65 to 75 knots (120-139 km per hour).

It is likely that the governorates of Muscat and South Al Batinah will continue to be affected by very heavy rain accompanied by strong winds during the day, while the Governorate of North Al Batinah will begin to be affected in the coming hours by high speed winds (45 to 65 knots) and very heavy rain (200 to 500 mm). While the governorates of Al Dhahirah, Al Buraimi and Al Dakhiliyah will affected this evening by high speed winds (40 to 50 knots) and very heavy rain (100 to 300 mm), which may be thunderstorms that may lead to flash floods.

The governorates of Musandam, North and South Al Sharqiyah may be affected by rains of varying intensity (30 to 70 mm). It is likely that the tropical situation will cross between the wilayats of Musannah and Sohar this evening between 6 pm and 10 pm