Cyclone VAYU likely to landfall in afternoon tomorrow

Gandhinagar: The Very Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘VAYU’(pronounced as VAA’YU)over Eastcentral Arabian Sea moved northwestwards with a speed of about 14kmph in last sixhours and lay centred at 1130 hrs IST near latitude 18.4°N and longitude 70.0°E over Eastcentral Arabian Sea, about 310km west-southwest of Mumbai(Maharashtra),280km nearly south of Veraval(Gujarat)and 360km nearly south of Porbandar (Gujarat).It is very likely to move nearly northwards and cross Gujarat coast between Dwarka and Veraval as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm with wind speed 155-165kmph gusting to180kmph around afternoon of 13thJune2019.After crossing, the system is likely to move along & parallel to Saurashtra & Kutch Coast affecting Amreli,GirSomnath, Diu, Junagarh, Porbandar, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Devbhoomi Dwarka and Kutch. The latest IMD bulletin said.

Forecast track and intensity are given in the following table:

20.9/69.8

Warnings:

(i) Heavy rainfall warning: 

Note: * Rainfall till 0830 IST of next day.

Legends:          Yellow: Be Updated; Orange- Be prepared; Red- Take action, Green: No warning

Heavy rain: 64.5-115.5 mm/day; Very heavy rain: 115.6-204.4 mm/day; Extremely heavy rain: more than 204.4 mm/day

(ii) Wind warning

• 12^th June: Gale wind speed reaching 140-150 kmph gusting to 165 kmph prevails over eastcentral & adjoining northeast Arabian Sea and become 145-155 kmph gusting to 170 kmph by 12^th night. Gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph prevails over Gujarat Coast and become gale wind speed reaching 100-110 kmph gusting to 125 kmph by 12^th night. It is very likely to be 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph over Maharashtra Coast.
• 13^th June: Gale wind speed of the order of 155-165 kmph gusting to 180 kmph very likely over north Arabian Sea & Gujarat coast till afternoon and decrease gradually thereafter. It is very likely to be 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph over north Maharashtra Coasts & northern parts of eastcentral Arabian Sea.

(iii) Sea condition

• The sea condition is phenomenal over eastcentral & adjoining northeast Arabian Sea & Gujarat coast on 12^th & 13^th June 2019.
• The Sea condition is very likely to very rough to high along & off Maharashtra Coast on 12^th & 13^th June, 2019.

(iv) Fishermen Warning

• The fishermen are advised not to venture into Eastcentral Arabian Sea and along & off Maharashtra Coast on 12^th; north Arabian sea and along & off Gujarat coast on 12^th & 13^th.

(iv) Storm Surge Warning

Storm surge of height of about 1.5-2.0 m above the astronomical tides likely to inundate the low lying coastal areas of Kutch, Devbhoomi, Dwarka, Porbandar, Junagarh, Diu, Gir Somnath, Amreli and Bhavnagar districts at the time of landfall.

(v) Damage Expected and Action suggested for Amreli, Gir Somnath, Diu, Junagarh, Porbandar, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Devbhoomi Dwarka and Kutch:

(i) Total destruction of thatched houses/extensive damage to Kutcha houses. Some damage to pucca houses. Potential threat from flying objects.(ii) Bending/uprooting of power and communication poles. (iii) Major damage to Kutcha and Pucca roads. Flooding of escape routes. Minor disruption of railways, overhead power lines and signalling systems.                  (iv) Widespread damage to standing crops, plantation, orchards, falling of green coconuts and tearing of palm fronds. Blowing down bushy trees like mango.(v) Small boats, country crafts may get detached from moorings.(vi) Visibility severe affected.

Action suggested:

(i) Regulate road & rail traffic (ii) Total suspension of fishing operations. (iii) Evacuation from low lying areas of the above mentioned Districts, coastal Hutment dwellers, urban slum dwellers and people staying in unsafe house to safer places. People in affected areas to remain indoors.(iv) Movement in motor boats & small ships unsafe.(v) Inundation of low lying areas in the along the coasts due to heavy rainfall and storm surge.

DeshGujarat