Cyclone Vayu to hit Gujarat today, 280,000 to be evacuated: Top updates

Here are top 10 updates on Cyclone Vayu in Gujarat and Mumbai rain

The Indian Meteorological Department has said that thunderstorm and lightning accompanied with gusty wind (40-50kmph) is very likely at isolated places in the districts of North Gujarat region including Banaskantha and Sabarkantha today and tomorrow (Thursday).

The alert comes in wake of Cyclone Vayu, which is likely to make landfall over the Saurashtra coast of Gujarat as a severe cyclonic storm early Thursday morning with winds gusting up to 135 kmph and storm surges of up to 1.5 metres. Tropical Cyclone Vayu, which formed Monday, strengthened on Tuesday into a hurricane-strength tropical cyclone (meaning winds in excess of 120 kph, or 75 mph) in the Arabian Sea. Gujarat government has declared a two-day holiday for all the schools and colleges located in several parts of Gujarat.

Top 10 developments on Cyclone Vayu

1. Cyclone Vayu: Thunderstorm, lightning alert issued for various districts of Gujarat
The Indian Meteorological Department has said that thunderstorm and lightning accompanied with gusty wind (40-50kmph) is very likely at isolated places in the districts of North Gujarat region including Banaskantha and Sabarkantha today and tomorrow.

Heavy to very heavy rains very likely at isolated places in Saurashtra ta Amreli, Bhavnagar, Gir Somnath, Junagadh and Diu. Heavy rains are very likely at isolated places in districts of South Gujarat region, in Navsari, Valsad, Daman, Dadra Nagar Haveli on 12 June, according to IMD.

2. Cyclone Vayu: Thousands being evacuated from Gujarat

Gujarat Chief Secretary J N Singh said that around 280,000 people from the vulnerable areas along the coast would be evacuated from Wednesday.

3. IAF C-17 aircraft lands at Jamnagar with NDRF team

The IAF C-17 aircraft, which planned to airlift about 160 personnel of NDRF from Vijayawada, has landed at Jamnagar with the team to carry out the humanitarian aid and disaster relief (HADR) missions for the people affected by Cyclone Vayu in the state, IAF said.

Cyclone Vayu to make landfall in Gujarat tomorrow: All you need to know

With long sea travel, low vertical wind shear, and warm sea surface temperatures, the probable cyclone is further expected to gain strength and intensify into a severe cyclone storm

The cyclonic storm Vayu is closing in on the Arabian Sea coast bringing heavy rains and winds sweeping across parts of Gujarat. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has put the state on high alert as the storm gushes at speed ranging from 75 km per hour to a maximum of 135 km.

“The system currently is seen as a depression over the Southeast and East Central Arabian Sea and is centered at 11.2 degree N and 71 degree E, around 800 km South-Southwest of Mumbai,” according to skymetweather.com.

A deep depression is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm Vayu by today. “With long sea travel, low vertical wind shear, and warm sea surface temperatures, the probable cyclone is further expected to gain strength and intensify into a severe cyclone storm,” it added.

Here’s what you must know about Cyclone Vayu

IMD has issued an “orange” alert for Cyclone Vayu

The IMD has issued an “orange” alert for Cyclone Vayu, indicating that it does not expect the storm to cause much damage on land. However, the warning means that fishermen have been warned not to venture into the sea till the storm subsides.

Gujarat on alert

Gujarat government has decided to deploy 15 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in coastal areas of Saurashtra and Kutch. The Army, Navy and the Coast Guard are also on alert.

Cyclone to bring pre-monsoons rain across Gujarat

According to IMD, cyclone Vayu may bring light showers to cities, like Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, Rajkot, Veraval and Bhuj on June 12 and June 13.

Mumbai rain

Under the influence of the cyclone, sudden showers and lightning have enveloped many parts of Mumbai as far apart as Grant Road, Powai, Goregaon, Navi Mumbai and Thane.

Cyclonic storm to intensify into severe cyclone

Cyclonic storm is likely to intensify into a severe cyclone. Places like Jamnagar, Somnath, Porbander, Dwarka and Nailiya in Kutch” would be impacted…