New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced this morning that the well-marked low-pressure area over the eastcentral Arabian Sea off the south Konkan coast has intensified into a depression.

The IMD bulletin states, “Latest observations indicate that the Well Marked Low pressure area over eastcentral Arabian Sea off south Konkan coast concentrated into a depression and lay centered at 0000 UTC of today, the 24th May 2025 over eastcentral Arabian Sea and adjoining south Konkan coast near latitude 17.2° N & longitude 73.0° E, about 40 km northwest of Ratnagiri.”

“It is likely to move nearly eastwards and cross south Konkan coast between Ratnagiri and Dapoli as a depression around 0600 UTC of today, the 24th May 2025,” the bulletin added.

Rainfall warning for Gujarat

According to the IMD, light to moderate rainfall at most places with isolated heavy rainfall is very likely over south Gujarat during 24th–27th May.

In addition, squally winds reaching speeds of 45–55 kmph, gusting up to 65 kmph, are expected over the eastcentral and adjoining northeast Arabian Sea, as well as along and off the Konkan-Goa and south Gujarat coasts during May 24–25. Winds are expected to gradually decrease to 40–50 kmph, gusting to 60 kmph, from May 26–27.

Sea conditions & fishermen warning

The sea condition is predicted to be rough to very rough across the eastcentral and northeast Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep, the Comorin area, and along and off the Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, and south Gujarat coasts during May 24–27. Fishermen have been strongly advised not to venture into these sea areas until May 27, and authorities are urged to monitor and regulate small ship movements, shipping activities, and tourism or recreational operations during this period.

Cyclone Shakthi: Incoming or not?

It is also noteworthy that this depression over the eastcentral Arabian Sea is not expected to intensify into a cyclone, which would have been named Cyclone Shakthi — a name proposed by Sri Lanka. One of the major reasons why it will not develop into a cyclone is that the system is too close to the Konkan coast; once it makes landfall (expected between Ratnagiri and Dapoli today), it will lose access to the warm ocean waters that fuel further intensification. Hence, no cyclone warning has been issued by the IMD. DeshGujarat