The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has reported that the very severe cyclonic storm, named ‘Biparjoy,’ is currently located over the east-central Arabian Sea. The system has been moving nearly northwards and is expected to further intensify over the next 36 hours. It is projected to continue its path in a north-northwest direction for the following two days.
As of 11:30 pm, Cyclone Biparjoy was centered approximately 840 km west-southwest of Goa, 870 km west-southwest of Mumbai, 870 km south-southwest of Porbandar, and 1150 km south of Karachi. The IMD predicts squally winds with speeds ranging from 40-50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph, along and off the coasts of Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra.
The sea conditions are expected to be very rough in the adjoining areas of the south Arabian Sea and rough along the coasts of Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra for the next five days.
In response to the approaching cyclone, fishermen in Gujarat’s coastal Porbandar district have been advised to return to the coast from deep sea areas. Ports in the region have been instructed to hoist the Distant Warning signal (DW II), following international procedures to alert vessels and ensure the safety of maritime activities.
While Cyclone Biparjoy poses no threat to Pakistan’s coastal areas, the country’s weather forecasting agency has highlighted phenomenal sea conditions near the system’s center, with maximum wave heights reaching 25-28 feet.
In a separate development, the IMD has officially declared the onset of a weak monsoon in Kerala, seven days later than its normal arrival in the southern state. Monitoring the monsoon’s progress, S G Kamble, the Mumbai head of IMD Regional Meteorological Centre, stated that the monsoon onset over Maharashtra will be discussed in the next two to three days. The usual onset date for the monsoon in Mumbai is June 11, while it enters southern Konkan in Maharashtra on June 10.
As coastal areas brace for strong winds and rough sea conditions due to Cyclone Biparjoy, the focus also remains on the monsoon’s progress, which plays a crucial role in the region’s agricultural activities and overall weather patterns.
