Cyclone Vayu to hit Gujarat on June 13

Cyclonic Storm Vayu which formed over the Southeast Arabian Sea has moved northwards. It was centred over the Eastcentral Arabian Sea, about 460 km north-northwest of Aminidivi (Lakshadweep), 540 km southsouthwest of Mumbai (Maharashtra) and 690 km nearly south of Veraval (Gujarat) during the early morning hours. It is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm in the next 24 hours.

According to the IMD, the cyclone is likely to move nearly northwards and cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva around Veraval & Diu region as a Severe Cyclonic Storm with wind speed 110-120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph during early morning of June 13, 2019.

The seas are bound to be rough in Kerala, Karnataka and Lakshadweep coasts during the day given the predicted wind speed of 40-60 kmph. The fishermen have been advised not to venture into Southeast Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep area, along and off Kerala and Karnataka coasts.

The IMD has put Gujarat on alert with likely Cyclone Vayu closing in on the Arabian Sea coast bringing heavy rains and winds sweeping across parts of the state at speed ranging from 75 km per hour to a maximum of 135 km.

"The system currently is seen as a depression over the Southeast and East Central Arabian Sea and is centered at 11.2°N and 71°E, around 800 km South-Southwest of Mumbai," according to skymetweather.com

A deep depression is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm Vayu by Tuesday. "By that time it would be abeam Mumbai. With long sea travel, low vertical wind shear, and warm sea surface temperatures, the probable cyclone is further expected to gain strength and intensify into a severe cyclone storm," it added.

The cyclone is expected to be closest to the Saurashtra Coast by June 12 and between June 12 and June 14, the western-most parts of Saurashtra and Kutch region in Gujarat could witness squally winds and heavy to very heavy rains, MeT officials said.

With likely cyclonic storm even intensifying into a severe cyclone, places like Jamnagar, Somnath, Porbander, Dwarka and Nailiya in Kutch would be impacted, and could even herald pre-monsoons rain across Gujarat.

The cyclone might bring light showers to cities, like Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, Rajkot, Veraval and Bhuj on June 12 and June 13.

According to an IMD advisory, the "Wind speed is very likely to increase further becoming gale wind speed reaching 90-100 kmph gusting to 115 kmph over east-central & adjoining northeast Arabian Sea. It is very likely to be 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph over South Gujarat and Maharashtra Coasts" on June 12, while it could go up to 110-120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph over north Arabian Sea on June 13.

"It is very likely to be 65-75 kmph gusting to 75 kmph over Gujarat coast; and 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph over north Maharashtra Coasts & northern parts of eastcentral Arabian Sea," the IMD added.

(With inputs from IANS.)