Mumbai may see light showers over next 48 hours as cyclone Ockhi makes landfall in Maharashtra
Parts of Maharashtra and Gujarat may see light rains and strong winds (Representational Image. Courtesy: Ramanujam Ravi)
After wreaking havoc in the southern states, cyclone Ockhi is expected to make landfall in Gujarat and Maharashtra, resulting in unseasonal rain and thundershowers over the next 48 hours.
According to Skymet Weather, the cyclonic storm is expected to move northwestwards towards Gujarat and Maharashtra before gradually weakening.
In the wake of the cyclone’s impending arrival, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned fisherman from Maharashtra, Goa, and Karnataka to not venture into the sea till Wednesday.
The weather department has also asked citizens of Maharashtra and south Gujarat, including Mumbai and Surat, to brace for rain, thundershowers, and strong winds over the next two days.
Although light showers are expected on Monday night, the rainfall and winds are expected to grow stronger on Tuesday. The possibility of rainfall, and winds gusting to 70 kmph, is highest in isolated places across Gujarat and North Maharashtra.
The intensity of the cyclone is likely to weaken on Monday and subsequently on Tuesday.
“As per our weather models, the intensity of the cyclone will weaken by the time it comes to south Gujarat and north Konkan over the next 48 hours,” KJ Ramesh, Director General, IMD told a daily.
“The cyclone is currently moving towards the northwest of Lakshadweep over the Arabian Sea at the latitude of Goa. From Monday onwards, it will take a northeasterly course and move closer to the Maharashtra-Gujarat region,” he added.
Meanwhile, the coast guard and other maritime agencies have been put on high alert to avoid any loss of life.
On Sunday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said 28 boats, carrying 321 fishermen, which were caught in rough seas due to the cyclone, safely reached Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri coast.
The boats, now docked at Mirya Bunder in Ratnagiri were from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka. Prior to this, 68 fishing boats with 952 fishermen on board were rescued.
Cyclone Ockhi devastated coastal areas in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep last week, claiming 19 lives and displacing countless others.
It has destroyed crops, communication/electricity lines, and property worth thousands of crores.
