India and Pakistan braced for the first severe cyclone – Biparjoy – this year expected to hit their coastal regions later this week, with authorities halting fishing activities, deploying rescue personnel and announcing evacuation plans for those at risk. From the Arabian Sea, cyclone Biparjoy is aiming at Pakistan’s southern Sindh province and the coastline of Gujarat. It is forecast to make landfall on Thursday and could reach maximum wind speeds of up to 150 kmph.
On Tuesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an Orange alert for Saurashtra and Kutch coasts in Gujarat as Biparjoy is set to cross the Jakhau Port in Gujarat by the evening of June 15 as Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS), reported Hindustan Times.
Biparjoy, which began as a Low Pressure Area just last week, rapidly intensified into a formidable Severe Cyclonic Storm. Remarkably, it has become one of the most persistent cyclones to affect India in recent decades. The prolonged duration over the sea has allowed Biparjoy to gather significant energy and moisture, thereby enhancing its intensity. Consequently, there is an increased risk of severe impacts and destructive consequences upon landfall, weather.com reported.
According to the US National Hurricane Center, “A landfall is the intersection of the centre of a tropical cyclone with a coastline.”
In other words, landfall is when the eye of the cyclone moves to land after being on the water. This does not mean that cyclone has ‘hit the land’ or arrived. The cyclone arrives hours before the landfall bringing rainfall and dust storms.
A landfall often carries heavy winds, lashing rains, increasing sea level that can pose a threat to people living in the neighbouring region.
Classified as a very severe cyclonic storm, Biparjoy is expected to make landfall around Thursday evening between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan with a maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kmph, gusting to 150 kmph, the IMD said.
“On June 15, wind speed in Dwarka, Jamnagar, Kutch and Morbi districts of Gujarat will be around 125-135 kmph and gusting to 150 kmph, it could have extensive damaging potential,” Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director general of the IMD said at a press briefing on Tuesday.
Mohapatra added that the wind speed is picking up in Porbandar, Devbhoomi Dwarka districts upto Kutch to go up to 65-75 kmph on Wednesday.
High waves in the Arabian Sea, accompanied by a heavy downpour and gusting winds pounded Gujarat’s coastal areas, uprooting trees and resulting in a wall collapse that killed three people in Kutch and Rajkot districts of the state, authorities said. Eight districts in coastal Gujarat are expected to be affected, the state government said.
The cyclone could lead to extremely heavy rainfall (over 20 cm) at isolated places in Kutch, Devbhoomi Dwarka and Jamnagar districts on June 15. Porbandar, Rajkot, Morbi and Junagarh may receive heavy to very heavy rainfall.
Winds gusting up to 145 km are predicted to batter these districts.
“Tidal waves reaching heights of up to six metres could inundate low-lying coastal areas of Saurashtra and Kutch. Evacuation measures have been recommended, and authorities are taking prompt action,” Mohapatra said.
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