Cyclone Biparjoy is expected to intensify further over the next 36 hours, moving northwestwards during the next two days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday.
The very severe cyclonic storm was last recorded over the east-central Arabian Sea at 23.30 hrs IST on June 8, over about 840 km west-southwest of Goa, and 870 km west-southwest of Mumbai.
Cyclone Biparjoy to reach peak wind speed today
The cyclone will reach its peak wind speed of 155-165 kmph gusting to 180 kmph later in the day on Thursday. The wind speed will then gradually decrease from June 11 onwards, starting from 145-155 kmph to ascend further.
Amid fears of cyclone Biparjoy affecting the onset of the monsoon along the south-west coast, the IMD officials on Wednesday announced its arrival over Kerala on Thursday.
Although a delayed monsoon onset over Kerala does not necessarily mean a delay over northwest India, it often results in a delay for southern states and Mumbai. Despite evolving El Nino conditions, the IMD predicts normal rainfall for India during the Southwest monsoon season.
West Coast braces itself for Biparjoy’s impact
Coastal parts of Gujarat and Saurashtra are likely to experience bursts of winds as well as background monsoon winds as an effect of the storm. Several parts of Gujarat are bracing themselves for the possible effects of the cyclone.
Authorities from coastal districts, including Kutch, Jamnagar, Dwarka and Porbandar, have held meetings with the district administrations to get safety measures in place.
The ports have been advised to hoist signals as per the international procedure, in case the weather gets adverse and needs to be warned about.
The fishermen in Porbandar have been asked to return to the coast from deep sea areas, officials told the Indian Express on Thursday. Preparations to evacuate the population from vulnerable coastal areas are underway, authorities said.
Authorities at the Devbhumi Dwarka said they have activated control rooms at taluka levels as well as disaster response. Cyclone shelters with facilities of food, drinking water and medicine at cyclone shelters along the coast of the Kutch district have also been put in place, sources said.
Seriously ill patients and pregnant women have been shifted to hospitals in case they need emergency help. Porbadar authorities will set up four cyclone shelters to ensure smooth evacuation if needed.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra’s Mumbai, which is also likely to receive rain as an effect of the cyclone, faces the possibility of water-logging. The authorities there have therefore made arrangements for pumping equipment and staff accordingly. Staffs have been formed into teams to warn people in temporary and makeshift settlements to stay aware and make alternate arrangements.
For Karnataka, IMD officials said the state will experience monsoon rains within two days if the current conditions persist. Experts said Karnataka can expect normal monsoon conditions, with slightly above-normal rainfall in districts like Chamarajanagar, Bengaluru Rural, and the Malnad region in June.
The monsoon has already advanced into the remaining parts of the south Arabian Sea and some parts of the central Arabian Sea, the entire Lakshadweep area, most parts of Kerala, most parts of south Tamil Nadu, the remaining parts of the Comorin area, the Gulf of Mannar and some more parts of southwest, central and northeast Bay of Bengal.
Northeast to welcome monsoon in next 2 days
Monsoon is expected to reach Northeast Indian states within the next 48 hours. According to the IMD’s extended range forecast, the northeast can expect light to moderate widespread rainfall and thunderstorms from June 9 to June 15 and June 16 to June 22.
A meteorology official stated that overall rainfall activity in the region is likely to be normal to above normal during this period. Heavy rain is expected in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, and Sikkim on Sunday and Monday. Heatwave conditions will persist in Malda, North Dinajpur, and South Dinajpur districts until Saturday.
Monsoon to arrive a week late in Delhi
The national capital is likely to witness light rain and clouds on Friday, a bulletin by IMD said. The city may also face strong winds blowing across the city from Saturday onwards.
The monsoon generally hits Delhi by June 28, but its delayed arrival in Kerala will also lead to a delay of 5-6 days in Delhi. Though the IMD has predicted party clouded skies, the city will not experience rain for another 6-7 days, as per IMD predictions.
West Bengal weather forecast
The arrival of monsoon in the northeast will set favorable conditions for its entry into Bengal by Sunday. Thunderstorms are forecasted for Sunday and Monday in coastal districts, including Kolkata, Howrah, and Hooghly.
A heat wave warning is in place for all districts, except Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas, and East Midnapore until Saturday. On Sunday and Monday, the heat wave will shift to Purulia, Bankura, and East and West Burdwan.
