Tropical storm approaches Omani coast, warns Qatar Met Dept
Gulf Times
The center of the tropical storm is about 650km from the Governorate of Muscat, while the nearest cumulus cloud is 500km away,
The Gulf Marine Center in Qatar Met Department on Friday issued a warning that the latest satellite images and analyzes of the National Multi-Hazard Early Warning Center show a tropical storm (Shaheen) is currently centered at a latitude of 23.3 degrees north and longitude 64.4 degrees east, and it is moving towards the coasts of the Sultanate of Oman overlooking the Sea of Oman. The center of the tropical storm is about 650km from the Governorate of Muscat, while the nearest cumulus cloud is 500km away, the Met Department said in a social media post. The wind speed around the center of the storm is estimated at 34 to 63 kt (62-116 km/h). It is possible that the tropical storm will deepen into a first-class tropical cyclone during the next 24 hours and will continue to move towards the coasts of the Sultanate, extending from the Governorate of Muscat to the Governorate of North Al Batinah, where it is likely to cross the tropical state (Shaheen) on the evening of Sunday. From the morning of the same day, it will be accompanied by high speed winds and very heavy thunderstorms with total rain ranging from 150 to 600mm, leading to severe floods in the valleys.
