Cyclone Tauktae forming in Arabian Sea, to make landfall at Gujarat's coast next week

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), on May 10, issued a forecast indicating the possible development of a cyclone in the Arabian Sea. As a part of it, the agency warned that southern states of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu as well as the island of Lakshadweep could receive light to moderate rainfall starting May 13. The rainfall will mainly be associated with the likely formation of a low-pressure system and its intensification. The potential cyclone named Tauktae is expected to make a landfall at Gujarat’s coast by May 17, according to the European Ensemble Prediction System (EPS).

“A low-pressure area is very likely to form over the southeast Arabian Sea on the morning of May 14. It is likely to move north-northwestwards across this region adjoining Lakshadweep. It may intensify into a cyclonic storm around May 16,” stated the latest press statement issued by the IMD. 

First cyclone of the year

All the seas witness five cyclones every year, however, the Arabian sea has an average cyclone of one per annum. If the cyclone realizes if at all, it would mark the first cyclonic storm of 2021 in the north Indian Ocean. Last year, cyclone Nisarga wreaked havoc across the western coastline. The route of cyclone Tauktae is yet not clear but IMD is keeping a close track of the intensifying pressure over the sea.
 

Cyclone Nisrga made landfall at Alibaug, Maharashtra in June last year and proceeded through to north-east Maharashtra. NDRF evacuated thousands off the coastal areas in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Daman. No untoward incident was reported in the southern coast of Gujarat due to the severe cyclonic storm 'Nisarga'. 

Authorities had relocated more than 63,700 people living close to the coast in eight districts to safer places as a precautionary measure. While 33,680 of them were evacuated from Valsad district, 14,400 people were evacuated in Navsari, 8,727 in Surat, 3,066 in Bhavnagar, 2,086 in Amreli, 1,2020 in Bharuch, 761 in Anand, and 228 in Gir-Somnath.

Representative Image: WHO