the goan I network
PANAJI
For the third time this year, Goa is set to receive heavy rainfall on account of a cyclone in the Arabian Sea.
The Met Department announced late Wednesday night at nearly 11 pm, that the deep depression over Lakshadweep and the adjoining Southeast Arabian Sea and Maldives area moved Northwestwards with a speed of 25 kmph during the past six hours and intensified into a Cyclonic Storm ‘Maha’ (Pronounced as M’maha) over Lakshadweep and the adjoining Southeast Arabian Sea and Maldives area.
At 5:30 pm, the cyclonic storm lay centered in the Arabian Sea about 540 kms North-northeast of Male, Maldives, 130 kms East of Minicoy, Lakshadweep, 240 kms Southeast of Kavaratti (Lakshadweep), and 320 kms to the West-Northwest of Thiruvananthapuram, director of IMD Goa, Dr K Padgalwar said.
“It is very likely to continue to move Northwestwards across Lakshadweep Islands during the next 36 hours and then emerge into the East central Arabian Sea. It is very likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 18 hours,” he said.
Since the movement of the cyclone is in the North-West direction away from Goa, the department has predicted that the cyclone will not affect Goa the way Cyclone Kyarr did.
When asked what would be the impact on Goa, Rahul M , scientist, Met Department said “Because of the huge distance from the coast, its impact on Goa is expected to be less. No orange or red alerts have been issued for Goa as of now. Increase in rainfall distribution may be there, while light to moderate thunderstorms also are likely,” he said, advising fishermen to stay away from the seas.
The Department has predicted thunder showers accompanied by lightening and gusty winds at isolated places over both districts on October 31 and November 1. The weather is set to return to normal on November 2.
Cyclone Maha is likely to affect areas like Lakshadweep, and the coasts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
