Goa drenched as 'Vayu' furiously heads for Gujarat

PANAJI: The cyclonic storm 'Vayu', the effects of which have been felt in parts of Goa over the last two days will not hit Goa, but is progressing northwards and is expected to hit Gujarat by June 13, Dr Krrishnamurthy Padgalwar, director of the Met Department said on Tuesday.
The cyclonic storm, which lay over east-central and southeast Arabian Sea moved northwards on Tuesday with a speed of about 15 kilometers per hour. It was moving parallel to the coast of Goa, around 200 kilometers away, explained the director.
However, the Met Department has predicted that the cyclonic storm is very likely to intensify further and evolve into a severe cyclonic storm over the next two days. It is very likely to move northwards and cross the Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva around Veraval and the Diu region as a severe cyclonic storm with wind speeds of 110-120 kilometers per hour, gusting at 135 kilometers per hour during the early morning of June 13.
The storm was also 540 kilometers away from Mumbai on Tuesday, and crossed the Goa coast late Tuesday evening. Vayu however had a strong impact on the weather in the state. Because of Vayu, South Goa received a substantial amount of rainfall over the past two days, with Sanguem receiving 17.2 mm, Dabolim 11.2 mm and Canacona 10.2 mm of rainfall.
The North of Goa also received rainfall, but less as compared to South. For Wednesday and Thursday, the Department has forecast fairly widespread rain with heavy rainfall at isolated places. Fishermen have also been warned to stay away from the sea.
Padgalwar specified that these rains had nothing to do with the monsoons, which are expected after the cyclone passes. If prevailing conditions are favourable, the monsoons will march towards the North by June 15, he said.