Cyclone Shakhti Weakens, Expected to Turn Into Depression by Tuesday
Cyclone ‘Shakhti’, a severe cyclonic storm that brought heavy rain to parts of western India, has moved further south-southwestwards over the Arabian Sea. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the system is continuing to weaken.
The IMD forecasts that Shakhti will gradually weaken into a cyclonic storm by Monday morning. It is then expected to recurve and move nearly eastwards before weakening further into a depression by Tuesday forenoon, October 7th.
As of the latest advisory, the storm was centered approximately 210 km southeast of Ras Al Hadd, Oman. While moving away from the Indian coast, it will continue to influence weather patterns.
Squally winds with speeds of 50-60 kmph, gusting to 70 kmph, are likely over the west-central Arabian Sea. These winds are forecast to reduce to 40-50 kmph by Tuesday morning. Along the Saurashtra and Kutch coasts, gusty winds are expected to continue through Monday morning.
Rough to very high sea conditions are predicted over the northwestern and west-central Arabian Sea, with rough seas persisting along the Saurashtra and Kutch coasts.
Meanwhile, a separate weather system has prompted a yellow alert for heavy rainfall in eastern India. Parts of West Bengal, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Assam, and Tripura are expected to receive significant rainfall. This comes a day after devastating rains in Darjeeling, West Bengal, resulted in multiple casualties.
