Cyclone Biparjoy To Intensify Further In 48 Hours: IMD

Bhubaneswar: Very severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy is expected to intensify further over the next 48 hours while moving northeastwards, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday.

“The Very Severe Cyclonic Storm “Biparjoy” over eastcentral Arabian Sea moved slowly north-northeastwards with a speed of 3 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centered at 5.30 am on June 9 over the same region, about 820 km west of Goa, 840 km westsouthwest of Mumbai, 850 km south-southwest of Porbandar and 1140 km south of Karachi. It would intensify further gradually during next 48 hours and move nearly north-northeastwards during next 48 hour and north-northwestwards during subsequent 3 days,” according to the morning bulletin.

The IMD has advised fishermen not to venture into cyclone-hit areas in the Arabian Sea.

“Due to the cyclone, the wind speed may go up to 45 to 55 knots on June 10,11 and 12. The speed may also touch the 65-knot mark. The cyclone would bring light rains and thunderstorms in coastal regions, including south Gujarat and Saurashtra. All ports have been asked to hoist Distant Warning signal,” director of IMD’s Meteorological Centre in Ahmedabad, Manorama Mohanty was quoted as saying.

Jamnagar collector BA Shah told the media nearly 76,000 people reside in 22 villages situated on the coastline of the district and elaborate plans are in place to shift them to safer places if need arises. Collectors of Kutch Dwarka, and Porbandar also held meetings with officers of the respective district administrations to prepare for the likely impact of Biparjoy.

Senior meteorologists Jason Nicholls tweeted that the very severe cyclonic storm continue to drift north with additional strengthening possible into Saturday. Light steering flow is keeping the exact track unclear so areas from Oman to coastal Pakistan & Gujarat, should be prepared for possible impacts next week,” he added.

Private forecaster Skymet Weather said that Biparjoy will head for Pakistan/Iran coast or at best move towards Oman and the Strait of Hormuz (  Persian Gulf). “The proximity of the Sub-Tropical ridge has slowed the storm considerably. However, the storm will retain its strength of ‘Very Severe’ for the next 24 hours. The ocean surface is very warm maintaining a temperature of 31°C. Favourable steering current, weak wind shear and strong heat potential may lead to further intensification of the cyclone to become ‘extremely severe’ by tomorrow evening,” it said on Thursday.