The cyclone Kyarr has intensified into a super-cyclone, the first to have formed in the Arabian Sea in 12 years.
With low pressure levels hitherto unseen in the Arabian sea, Kyarr carries record (for the region) windspeeds of between 170-180kph—matched only by the 2007 Cyclone Gonu. It is not, however, expected to make landfall on the Indian coast and has been moving west-northwestwards (expected to continue doing so according to the Indian Meteorological Department.
The IMD warned that Kyarr could intensify into an “extremely severe cyclonic storm” during the next 24 hours. The IMD added in their warnings section that light to moderate rainfall could be expected at many places with heavy falls at isolated places very likely over Ranagiri, Sindhudurg districts of Maharashtra, Goa and Uttar Kannada and Udupi districts of Karnataka over the next 12 hours. In addition, light to moderate rainfall can be expected at a few places over south Gujarat over the next 24 hours.
They predicted heavy wind speeds over the eastern Arabian sea and ‘phenomenal’ sea conditions until October 28-30. Rough seas are expected along and off the Maharashtra-Goa-Karnataka coasts and northeast Arabian Sea and adjoining south Gujarat coast, with fishermen advised not to venture into the eastcentral Arabian Sea until October 29 and into the west central Arabia Sea between October 28-31.
According to PTI, the Indian Coast Guard has deployed the ships Samudra Prahari, Amal, Apoorva, Amartya and Rajdoot along the Karnataka-Goa coast, with Dornier aircraft also involved to coordinate with the ships as they rescue fishermen.
