The severe cyclonic storm, ‘Nilofar', over westcentral Arabian Sea and neighbourhood has further weakened and will pass over Gujarat coast as a mere depression at a wind speed of 40-50 kilometre per hour, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) latest release updated. On Wednesday, the IMD has predicted the very severe cyclonic storm 'Nilofar' to cross Gujarat coast as a marginal cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 60-70 kilometer per hour and a maximum speed of 80 kilometre per hour. The severe cyclonic storm would move northeastwards and rapidly weaken into a depression over northeast Arabian Sea off north Gujarat coast by October 31 evening. It had moved east-north-eastwards during past 6 hours and lay centred on October 30 morning over central and adjoining northeast Arabian Sea about 620 km west-southwest of Naliya in Gujarat and 650 km south-southwest of Karachi in Pakistan, the IMD release stated. Also, the influence of this system, the earlier prediction of heavy to very heavy rainfall over Gujarat on October 31 and November 1 has been changed to moderate rainfall at most places with only isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall to occur over Kutch and coastal districts of Saurashtra during next 48 hour. Light to moderate rainfall at many places with isolated heavy falls would occur over remaining districts of Saurashtra, north Gujarat region and southwest Rajasthan during the same period. While squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kilometre per hour gusting to 60 kilometre per hour would prevail along and off Gujarat coast on October 31. Sea condition along and off Gujarat coast will be rough on October 31. Fishermen along and off Gujarat coast are advised not to venture into the sea during next 48 hours.
