Cyclones Gulab and Shaheen
Cyclonic Storm Gulab (/ɡuːˈləb/) and Severe Cyclonic Storm Shaheen (/ʃəˈhiːn/) were two tropical cyclones that caused considerable damage to South and West Asia during the 2021 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. Gulab impacted India and Pakistan, while Shaheen impacted Iran, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Gulab was the third named storm of the 2021 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, as well as the fourth named storm of the season after its reformation in the Arabian Sea as Shaheen. The cyclone's origins can be traced back to a low-pressure area situated over the Bay of Bengal on September 24. The Pakistan Meteorological Department got turn to name this new cyclone that has formed and named it Gulab by the IMD. On September 26, Gulab made landfall in India's Andhra Pradesh but weakened overland, before degenerating into a remnant low on September 28. The system continued moving westward, emerging into the Arabian Sea on September 29, before regenerating into a depression early on September 30. Early on October 1, the system restrengthened into a Cyclonic Storm, which the IMD named Shaheen. The system gradually strengthened as it entered the Gulf of Oman. While slowly moving westward, the storm turned southwestward, subsequently making an extremely rare landfall in Oman on October 3, as a Category 1-equivalent cyclone. Shaheen then rapidly weakened, before dissipating the next day.
Severe Cyclonic Storm Shaheen nearing landfall in Oman on October 3 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| as Cyclonic Storm Gulab | |
| Formed | September 24, 2021 |
| Dissipated | September 28, 2021 |
| Cyclonic storm | |
| 3-minute sustained (IMD) | |
| Highest winds | 85 km/h (50 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 992 hPa (mbar); 29.29 inHg |
| Tropical storm | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS) | |
| Highest winds | 75 km/h (45 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 991 hPa (mbar); 29.26 inHg |
| Meteorological history | |
| as Severe Cyclonic Storm Shaheen | |
| Formed | September 30, 2021 |
| Dissipated | October 4, 2021 |
| Severe cyclonic storm | |
| 3-minute sustained (IMD) | |
| Highest winds | 110 km/h (70 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 984 hPa (mbar); 29.06 inHg |
| Category 1-equivalent tropical cyclone | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
| Highest winds | 130 km/h (80 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 976 hPa (mbar); 28.82 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 34 total |
| Damage | $791 million |
| Areas affected | Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Baluchistan, Sindh, Oman, United Arab Emirates, eastern Saudi Arabia, Yemen |
| IBTrACS | |
Part of the 2021 North Indian Ocean cyclone season | |
The name Gulab was given by Pakistan, meaning 'rose' in Urdu. The name Shaheen, provided by Qatar, means 'falcon' in Arabic. The system overall brought heavy rain and strong winds throughout India, Pakistan and the Middle East. Water-related damage was extensive, while communications were disrupted as winds downed many power lines. Hundreds of roads were closed in India. Heavy rainfall occurred in Karachi, Pakistan. Shaheen delivered extreme rainfall to Oman, causing flooding across a wide area of the country's northeastern governorates. Muscat saw particularly heavy flooding, which submerged cars and other low-lying objects.