Cyclone alerts raised for Indian coast

Tropical cyclone 4A in the Arabian Sea has intensified into Tropical Cyclone PHYAN. Windspeeds are currently holding at 65 - 70 km/hr with gusts up to 85 km/hr. The storm is expected to continue to strengthen slightly until making landfall during the day Thirsday local time.

Cyclone warnings have been issued for areas near the coast that will be affected by heavy rain.

Cyclone alert for North M'rashtra coast and south Gujarat (Hindustan Times)

The city may well see the heaviest rainfall it has experienced this year on Wednesday, thanks to a cyclone developing 700 km south of the city.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that Tuesday’s drizzle could give way to a downpour and squally winds of up to 75 km an hour, which could uproot trees, in the next 48 hours. “Wednesday afternoon is critical,” said R.V. Sharma, deputy director, IMD (western region).

The cyclone is expected to hit north Maharashtra and move towards Gujarat. Mumbai last saw a cyclone in 1982.

Cyclone warning for south Gujarat and north Maharashtra : Orange message (Indian Meteorological Department)

Under its influence, rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and isolated extremely heavy fall (≥25 cm) is likely over Konkan & Goa and Madhya Maharashtra during next 36 hours. Rainfall at many places with heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places is likely over coastal Karnataka during next 24 hours. Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and isolated extremely heavy falls (≥25 cm) is likely to commence over south Gujarat from today afternoon, the 11th November, 2009.

Squally winds speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph are likely along and off Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra coasts during next 36 hours. Sea condition will be very rough over along and off Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra coasts. Squally wind speed reaching 55-65 gusting to 75 kmph is likely to commence along and off south Gujarat coast from today afternoon.

Cyclone threat for north Konkan, south Gujarat (Hindu Business Line)

India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a tropical cyclone formation alert in the Arabian Sea as Monday’s depression intensified into deep depression, a notch below cyclone status.

The IMD had early this morning elevated an existing well-marked ‘low’ over southeast and adjoining east-central Arabian Sea to a depression.

The depression later moved northwards, intensified into a deep depression and lay centred about 470 km west of Mangalore; 470 km southwest of Goa; and 700 km south-southwest of Mumbai around 3 p.m. on Tuesday.

What seems to have fuelled the intensification is its movement into open east-central Arabian Sea that is warmer than along the coast-affording it more stay on waters - and less wind shear.

Satellite imagery indicated organisation of convection leading to curved band features.

Associated broken intense to very intense convection lay over east-central and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea and off Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra coasts and over Lakshadweep.

The prospective cyclonic storm is expected to move in a northerly direction and then north-northeastwards to cross south Gujarat and north Konkan coast between Mahuva and Dahanu by early hours of Thursday, the IMD said.