‘Very severe’ cyclone Biparjoy to hit Gujarat: What to expect

The weather disturbance is likely to damage to houses and roads, disrupt of railways, powerlines and signalling systems, and cause widespread harm to standing crops, a bulletin from the India-based Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (RSMC) said.

Here’s your lowdown on what to expect:

1. 01

   Biparjoy to hit Gujarat as 'very severe' cyclone

   “It (Biparjoy) is very likely to move nearly northward till June 14 morning, then move north-northeastwards and cross Saurashtra and Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi near Jakhau port by noon of June 15 as a very severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained windspeed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph,” the IMD said in its Monday bulletin.

   The extremely severe cyclone developing in the Arabian sea is expected to lose some of its strength and get downgraded to a “very severe cyclonic storm” by the time it makes a landfall in Gujarat.

2. 02

   Rain, thunderstorms in Gujarat for 5 days

   The cyclone is likely to pass at a distance of 200-300 km from the Porbandar coast but will bring thunderstorms and strong winds to Gujarat.

   Heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely to occur in Saurashtra and Kutch regions on June 14 and extremely heavy rainfall on June 15, the weather office has said.

3. 03

   Temperature to fall in Gujarat

   Gujarat's temperature is likely to fall by 4-6 degrees Celsius in the next 4-5 days, the IMD said in its Monday morning bulletin.

4. 04

   Biparjoy may destroy thatched houses, disrupt trains

   It is expected to result in 2-3 metre storm surges, destruction of thatched houses, damage to pucca houses and roads, floodings, widespread damage to standing crops, plantations and orchards, and disruption of railways, powerlines and signalling systems in the northern and western coastal districts of Gujarat, a bulletin from the India-based Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (RSMC) said.

5. 05

   State govt prepares for cyclone

   The Gujarat government has closed popular sea beaches like Chowpaty in Porbandar, Shivrajpur near Dwarka, and Mandvi in Kutch district. Fishermen have been asked to suspend fishing operations until June 15. Further, the local administration in the affected districts has been advised to make preparations for evacuation of people.

   About 1,100 people were evacuated from Dwarka by Sunday evening, Ashok Sharma, District Collector of Devbhumi Dwarka, said. In Kutch, about 5,000 people might need to be shifted, Mitesh Pandya, Resident Additional Collector, indicated.

   “The cyclone is moving towards us. So, everybody pray that should it hit (Gujarat), then it passes off causing minimum damage. If it does not hit Gujarat, nothing like it. But as of now, possibilities are there that it may hit (Gujarat),” Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said.

6. 06

   The change in direction

   Until Saturday afternoon, it appeared that Biparjoy would avoid the Gujarat coast and move northwards towards the Pakistani coastline.

   RSMC bulletins on Saturday said the cyclone was “likely to move north-northeastwards during the next 24 hours (till Sunday)” and then “gradually north-northwestwards during the subsequent three days.” On Sunday, the IMD observed that Biparjoy was moving north-northeastwards from June 14 morning.