Cyclone Shakhti moves towards Gujarat coast, expected to intensify
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Cyclone Shakthi, the first storm to form in the Arabian Sea during the post-monsoon season, is moving towards Dwarka off the Gujarat coast, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday.
The storm over the northeast Arabian Sea moved west-northwestwards at eight kmph in the last six hours. At 8:30 pm on Friday, it was located about 300 km west of Dwarka, 330 km south-southwest of Karachi in Pakistan, and 360 km west of Porbandar.
Named by Sri Lanka, Shakthi is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Saturday morning. "Thereafter, it is likely to continue to move west-southwestwards and reach central parts of north and adjoining central Arabian Sea by 5th October," the IMD said.
The storm is forecast to remain offshore and strengthen further over the next two days before weakening from Monday morning.
Under its influence, sea conditions are likely to be rough to very rough along the Gujarat-north Maharashtra and Pakistan coasts until Sunday. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the northwest Arabian Sea, adjoining areas of the northeast Arabian Sea, the central Arabian Sea, and off the Gujarat-north Maharashtra coasts until Tuesday.
The Arabian Sea has seen fewer cyclones compared to the Bay of Bengal, though storms like Tauktae in 2021 and Biparjoy in 2023 have caused significant impact in recent years. Cyclone Shakthi now joins that list, with close monitoring underway.