The deep depression over the Arabian Sea has intensified into a cyclonic storm. But it remains stationary 1,100 km west-south-west off Mumbai, 1,030 km off Naliya in the Kutch region of Gujarat and 1,100 km south-south-west off Karachi.
According to the India Meteorological Department, the current environmental and numerical weather prediction models indicate that the system will intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm and move slowly in a north-north-westerly or northerly direction in the next 24 hours and then re-curve north-eastwards to Gujarat and the adjoining Pakistan coast.
Under its influence, fairly widespread rainfall will begin over the coastal areas of Gujarat from Thursday. The rainfall will increase thereafter.
Squally winds with a speed of up to 55-65 kmph will start blowing along the Gujarat coast from Wednesday and increase gradually. The sea will be very rough from Wednesday, says a bulletin issued by the Department. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea.
As the system remains stationary, the monsoon has stopped advancing after hitting the Kerala coast on Monday. The northern limit of the monsoon system continues to pass from Kannur in Kerala to Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu.
