Shaheen to make historic landfall into Oman

Severe Cyclonic Storm Shaheen is over the Gulf of Oman after former Cyclonic Storm Gulab entered the Arabian Sea as a well-marked low on 29 September, then reorganized into Shaheen off the coast of Gujarat, India on 1 October.

Shaheen is expected to make landfall in northeast Oman between Al Khaburah and Barka Sunday night, local time. This will mark the first landfalling cyclonic storm in northeast Oman in modern record keeping.

There were reports of a cyclone striking Sohar, Oman in early June 1890 with another cyclone entering the Gulf of Oman from the east in December 1957 and reaching Bahrain. However, no cyclonic storms have followed a track similar to Shaheen or struck eastern Oman during the satellite era and going back to 1960.

Cyclone tracks in the northern Indian Ocean since 1970.

Shaheen will bring heavy rain to northeast Oman into Monday with rainfall of 50-100 mm (2-4 inches) expected nearest landfall with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 150 mm (6 inches). Lighter rainfall of 19-50 mm (0.75-2.00 inches) can reach into United Arab Emirates late Sunday night and Monday, local time. This rain will result in areas of flooding and flash flooding, especially in northeast Oman and eastern UAE.

Wind intensity will rapidly diminish after landfall, but there can still be wind gusts of 100-110 km/h (60-68 mph) with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ 130 km/h (80 mph) near landfall which can result in damage and scattered power outages. Wind gusts of 60-80 km/h (37-50 mph) are possible farther inland into portions of UAE.

Rainstorm Shaheen can eventually spread showery rain into southeast Saudi Arabia Monday night into Tuesday, local time.