MAPUSA
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday said that a deep depression over the southeast and adjoining East-central Arabian Sea is likely to move northwestward and intensify into a cyclonic storm.
The depression lay about 930 km west-southwest of Goa and 1,060 km southwest of Mumbai, 1150 km south-southwest of Porbandar and 1450 km south of Karachi.
The cyclonic storm is called Cyclone Biparjoy.
The Met office said the cyclonic storm will intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Thursday morning and very severe cyclonic storm by Friday evening.
In view of the depression, squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph and gusting to 60 kmph is likely to be experienced along and off north Kerala-Karnataka-Goa and Karnataka-Goa-Maharashtra coasts for next four days.
“Sea condition is likely to be rough over southwest Arabian Sea, along and off Kerala-Karnataka-Goa and Karnataka-Goa-Maharashtra coasts for next four days,” an IMD bulletin said.
Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea and those out at sea have been advised to immediately return to the coast.
The IMD is closely monitoring the progress of the deep depression as it is likely to influence the progress of the monsoon in India.
In another report, the IMD has said that westerly winds continue to persist over south Arabian Sea.
“The depth of westerly winds has increased from 1.5 to 4.5 km above mean sea level. There has been some increase in rainfall activity over Kerala,” said Dr Rajasree, scientist with IMD Goa.
Meanwhile, scientists say a slightly delayed onset over Kerala does not mean that the monsoon will reach other parts of the country late. It also does not impact the total rainfall over the country during the season.
India is expected to get normal rainfall during the southwest monsoon season despite the evolving El Nino conditions, the IMD had earlier said.