Ahmedabad, 11 June, 2014

A deep depression over the Arabian Sea intensified into cyclonic storm “Nanauk” that lay about 660km southwest of Mumbai early this morning and was heading for the Oman coast, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

If the cyclone maintains its current direction away from India, it will have an adverse affect on the monsoon but if it changes its direction and moves towards the Maharashtra and Gujarat coast, then these areas would receive heavy to very heavy rainfall. Such a scenario will also help in the monsoon’s progress, which has not been very encouraging till now.

The system intensified into a cyclonic storm at 5:30am and lay centred over east central Arabian Sea about 660km southwest of Mumbai and 590km southwest of Veraval, it said in its morning bulletin.

“It would intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours and would move in the west-northwest direction towards the Oman coast during the next 72 hours,” it said.

Under its influence, strong winds with speed of 35-45kmph and gusting of up to 55 kmph would prevail along and off the Konkan and south Gujarat coast. Sea conditions would also remain rough along and off the Konkan, Goa and south Gujarat coast, the bulletin said.

Officials in the meteorological department had earlier said the system could impact the advancement of the monsoon over the country. The system has the potential to suck out moisture which is crucial for the progress of the monsoon.

The fishermen have been warned against venturing into the sea as the cyclone would be severe, and wind would be circulated to a large extent in the Arabian sea off Goa coast. The sea would be rough and the wind will blow at a speed of 40-60kmph. There will also be a tidal surge along with the wind.The cyclone will not hit Goa and Konkan as it is moving in the opposite direction. Nevertheless, a warning has been issued for the Goa coast and the state is expected to witness heavy rainfall at isolated places, the department said.

Weather department bulletin on Wednesday:

Port Warning:

The cyclonic storm Nanauk lay centered at 8.30 hours IST of today, the 11th of June, 2014 near latitude 16.70 N and longitude 67.00 E, about 670 KM west-southwest of Mumbai, 590 km south-southwest of Veraval and 960 km east-southeast of Masirah Island(Oman).

The cyclonic storm would intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during next 24 hours. It would move west-northwestwards towards Oman during next 120 hours.

Due to the cyclonic storm, strong surface winds of 20 to 25 KTS gusting to 35 KTS from southerly direction likely to prevail at port during next 24 hours.

Signal: Hoist distant warning II (DW II).

Fishermen are advised not to venture into open sea during the same period.

Fishermen:

For north Gujarat coast, wind will be 25 to 45 KMPH from southerly direction. Wind speed in gust may temporarily reach 55 KMPH. Sea will be rough with waves from southerly direction.

For south Gujarat coast, wind will be 35 to 45 KMPH from southerly direction. Wind speed in gust may temporarily reach 55 KMPH. Sea will be rough with waves from southerly direction.

Coastal bulletin till 12 June 12.00 noon:

North Gujarat Coast

Wind
MAINLY SOUTHWESTERLY 20-25 KTS GUSTING TO 35 KTS

Weather
ISOLATED RAIN OR THUNDERSHOWER

Visibility
GOOD BECOMING POOR IN RAIN OR THUNDERSHOWER

Sea
MODERATE TO ROUGH

Port Signals
HOIST DISTANT WARNING II (DW II)

South Gujarat Coast

Wind
MAINLY SOUTHWESTERLY 20-25 KTS GUSTING TO 35KTS

Weather
ISOLATED RAIN OR THUNDERSHOWER

Visibility
GOOD BECOMING POOR IN RAIN OR THUNDERSHOWER

Sea
MODERATE TO ROUGH

Port Signals
HOIST DISTANT WARNING II (DW II)

Light to moderate rain or thundershowers would occur at isolated places in the districts of Gujarat state and in Diu , Daman , Dadra Nagar Haveli in next three days.