Depression in Arabian Sea turns into cyclonic storm

New Delhi: The deep depression in the Arabian Sea has intensified into cyclonic storm Ashobaa and is expected to further develop into a “super cyclonic storm” in next 24-36 hours, the weather office said on Monday.

“The deep depression over east central Arabian Sea has moved north-northwestwards during past 6 hours and intensified further into a cyclonic storm (ASHOBAA), and lay centred at 0830 hours of June 8, 2015 nearly 590 km west-southwest of Mumbai, 470 km southwest of Veraval and 960 km east-southeast of Masirah Island (Oman). It would move initially north-northwestwards and intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during next 36 hours,” the India Meteorological Department said.

However, the landfall may not take place in India, said a senior IMD official.

“We are monitoring the cyclonic storm. We will be able to predict the landfall as it intensifies further,” the official added. Skymet, a private weather forecasting agency, said the “the system has shifted slightly away from the Indian coast.” Under the influence of this system, rainfall would occur at most places with isolated heavy falls over coastal Karnataka, Konkan and Goa and south Gujarat during the next 24 hours. “Strong winds speed reaching 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph would prevail along and off Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra coasts during next 24 hours and 90-100 kmph gusting to 120 kmph during subsequent 24 hours.