Cyclone forming over Arabian Sea as Gujarat recovers from heavy rain

Gujarat, AUG 29 :  The western coast of the country is bracing for heavy rain and gusty winds as a cyclonic storm is likely on Friday as a result of a deep depression that has formed over the Arabian Sea near the Gujarat coast, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday.

The deep depression over Saurashtra and Kutch moved slowly westwards with a speed of around three kilometres per hour during the past six hours and was concentrated at around noon on Thursday, the IMD bulletin said.

“It is likely to further head west-southwestwards, emerge into the Arabian Sea near the coast of Kutch and adjoining Saurashtra. It may further intensify into a Cyclonic Storm on August 30”, the weather body added. “Thereafter, it will continue to move nearly west-southwestwards over the northeast Arabian Sea away from the Indian coast during the next two days.”

The weather body forecast predicted light to moderate rain in most places, with heavy to extremely heavy rain at isolated places on Thursday.

Also, heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places is also forecast on Friday, followed by heavy rain over coastal districts of Gujarat on Saturday, August 31.

Additionally, wind speeds are likely to reach 65 kmph over the south Gujarat region, Saurashtra and Kutch on Thursday and Friday.

Strong winds reaching 60 kmph are also likely to hit the north Maharashtra coast during the next two days, the weather department said.

Meanwhile, fishermen have been advised against venturing out into the sea along and off the Gujarat coast and north Maharashtra coasts till Saturday.

-PTI