Cyclones Gulab and Shaheen
Severe Cyclonic Storm Shaheen nearing landfall in Oman on 3 October | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| as Cyclonic Storm Gulab | |
| Formed | 24 September 2021 |
| Dissipated | 28 September 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 | 30 September 2021 |
| Dissipated | 4 October 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 | |
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 24 September. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) named this new cyclone Gulab. On 26 September, Gulab made landfall in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and Karachi, Pakistan. Following landfall, Gulab weakened inland, degenerating into a remnant low on 28 September. The system continued moving westward, emerging over the Arabian Sea on 29 September, before regenerating into a depression early on 30 September. Early on 1 October, the system restrengthened into a Cyclonic Storm, which was 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 3 October as a Category 1-equivalent cyclone. Shaheen then rapidly weakened, before dissipating the next day.
The name Gulab was contributed 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.