Gujarat: Cyclone Tauktae now severe cyclonic storm, says IMD

AHMEDABAD: The India meteorological department (IMD) bulletin at 10 pm on Saturday mentioned that the cyclonic storm Tauktae turned severe on Saturday evening, as it continued its north-northwestward journey at the pace of about 13 kmph. As of Saturday night, the cyclone lay centred about 190 km southwest of Panjim in Goa, 550 km south of Mumbai, and 780 km south-southeast of Veraval in Gujarat.
‘It is very likely to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm during next 12 hours and intensify further. It is very likely to move north-northwestwards and reach Gujarat coast in the morning of May 18, and cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Naliya around afternoon or evening of May 18,’ mentioned IMD forecast that released the yellow alert to all states on west coast of India.
In a warning to Gujarat, IMD forecast mentioned light to moderate rainfall would start over coastal districts of Saurashtra from Sunday onwards, which would later take form of heavy to very heavy rainfall in districts like Junagadh, Gir Somnath, Porbandar, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Jamnagar and Kutch districts gradually from May 15 to 18.
‘Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph likely over northeast Arabian Sea and along & off south Gujarat & Daman and Diu coasts on morning of May 17 gradually becoming gale, winds speed reaching 150-160 kmph gusting to 175 kmph over northeast Arabian Sea from morning of May 18,’ mentioned the forecast.