MUSCAT: Cyclone Shaheen continues its movement towards the coasts of the Sultanate overlooking the Sea of ​​Oman, according to the latest update from Oman Meteorology.

In the first alert issued on Saturday, the authority said that the center of the tropical cyclone is about 320 km from the Governorate of Muscat, while the nearest cumulus cloud is 100 km away, and the wind speed around the center is estimated at 64 to 75 knots (116-150 km/h).

According to Oman Met, the indirect effects of the cyclone have already started on the “coasts of the governorates of South Al Sharqiah and Muscat, with waves rising (3-5 meters) with a flow of clouds accompanied by scattered rain, and monitoring stations recorded wind speeds (10-20 knots) and it is likely that the tropical cyclone will continue its movement towards the coasts of the North Governorate Al Batinah,” the statement said.

The direct effects according to Oman Met will begin on Sunday morning and will be accompanied by high-speed winds (30 to 60 knots) and very heavy thunderstorms (200 to 500 mm) leading to flooding of the wadis of the governorates of North Al Batinah, South Al Batinah, Muscat, Al Dhahirah, Al Buraimi, Al Dakhiliyah, and the coastal areas of the South Governorate.

The eastern governorates of Musandam and North Al Sharqiyah is also likely be affected by rains of varying intensity (30 to 80 mm) and moderate to active winds (15-25 knots).

The authority indicated that the sea will be “very rough on the coasts of the Sultanate, extending from the Governorate of South Al Sharqiah to the Governorate of Musandam, and the wave height is estimated at 8-12 meters, with the possibility of sea water extending to land in low areas, and the waves will be rough on the rest of the coasts of the Sultanate (3-5 meters).”

The Civil Aviation Authority has called on everyone to take caution and not to risk crossing valleys and to stay away from low-lying areas.