Severe Cyclone Shakhti in Arabian Sea: 9 Things To Know

Cyclone

Shakhti, the first cyclonic storm of the post-monsoon season in the Arabian Sea, is intensifying and affecting sea conditions off the Gujarat coast. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings for rough seas and advised fishermen to avoid venturing into affected areas.

Top Updates About Cyclone Shakhti

-Cyclone Shakhti has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm, with winds reaching 100 kmph and gusting higher.-The storm is currently centred about 420 km from Dwarka, Gujarat, moving west-southwest into the Arabian Sea.-Shakhti is expected to recurve east-northeastwards from Monday morning, gradually weakening.-Sea conditions are forecast to be rough to very rough along and off the Gujarat–North Maharashtra coast and the Pakistan coast until Sunday.-IMD has issued an alert for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg, warning of heavy rainfall and strong winds from October 3 to 7. Wind speeds are expected to range between 45-55 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 65 kmph along the north Maharashtra coast from October 3 to 5. -Fishermen have been warned not to venture into the northwest, northeast, and central Arabian Sea, and along Gujarat–North Maharashtra coasts until Tuesday.-Earlier on Friday, Shakhti was located nearly 300 km west of Dwarka, 330 km south-southwest of Karachi, and 360 km west of Porbandar, moving west-northwest at 8 kmph.-The cyclone was named Shakhti by Sri Lanka, following the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones naming convention, which involves 13 countries in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea region.-Recent Arabian Sea cyclones include Tauktae (2021) and Biparjoy (2023), though the Arabian Sea generally sees fewer cyclones than the Bay of Bengal.-According to forecasts, Shakhti is likely to remain offshore and intensify over the next two days, before losing strength from Monday morning.