Cyclone Vayu in Gujarat updates: As storm skirts Saurashtra coast, Skymet Weather predicts Pakistan to also escape cyclone's fury

Skymet Weather predicts Pakistan to also escape cyclone’s fury

Skymet Weather has predicted that after Gujarat, Pakistan will, too, escape the fury of Cyclone Vayu which is presently over northeast and adjoining east-central Arabian Sea.

Heavy rains in Ahmedabad

Areas like Sola Bhagwat, Ambavadi and Memnagar received heavy rainfall and strong winds. The rains will continue in the state, according to the forecast by the state meterological department earlier on Thursday. 

By Binita Parekh/101Reporters

Gujarat BJP chief visits vulnerable areas in Gir Somnath

State BJP president Jitu Vaghani visited various areas of Gir Somnath district which are likely to be affected due to Cyclone Vayu.

By Masuma Jariwala/101Reporters

Rainfall data from 6 am to 4 pm in Gujarat

Talaja taluka in Bhavnagar received the highest amount of rainfall in the state with 41 mm, while Jafrabad and Khambha in Amreli district received the second highest rainfall in the state with 35 mm.

By Amit Cowper/101Reporters

123 train services under Western Railway affected due to Cyclone Vayu

As per data from the Public Relations Officer, Rajkot, a total of 123 trains under the Western Railway have been affected. 86 trains have been cancelled while 37 trains were short-terminated.

By Masuma Jariwala/101Reporters

Over one inch rainfall recorded in nine Gujarat talukas

A significant amount of rainfall was received by 20 talukas as an effect of Cyclone Vayu. According to the information received from the State Emergency Operation Centre, rains of over one inch was recorded in Jafrabad, Khambhat, Talaja, Lathi, Mahuva, Rajula, Palitana, Amreli, Gadhda.

 
Moreover, rainfall of more than half an inch was registered in 11 talukas including Gariyadhar, Savarkundla, Vallabhipur, Jesar, Kalyanpur, Babra, Choryasi and Jalalpor.

Amit Cowper/101Reporters

3,000 food packets prepared by group volunteers in Mangrol

Volunteers of Rajpa Chudasama and Mama Sarkar group prepared 3,000 food packets for distribution to the affected areas, in Mangrol taluka in Junagadh district. 

By Darshana Jamindar/101Reporters

31 trains under Rajkot WR division cancelled, 22 short-terminated 

A total of 31 trains were cancelled while 22 were short-terminated in the wake of Cyclone Vayu, according to a release from the Rajkot division of Western Railway.

By Masuma Jariwala/101Reporters

Gujarat minister takes stock of situation in Gondal

Gujarat energy minister Saurabh Patel took stock of the situation at Gondal city in Rajkot district and personally distributing food packets.

Input by Masuma Jariwala/101Reporters

Cyclone Vayu moving northwestwards, has started skirting Saurashtra coast: IMD

IMD said that Cyclone Vayu is now moving northwestwards and has started skirting Saurashtra coast. It further said that heavy spells of rainfall are continuing over coastal areas and are likely to go on for the next three hours.

NDRF rescues pregnant woman requiring pre-term delivery in Gujarat

NDRF rescued a pregnant woman requiring pre-term delivery from Shiyalbet village, where boats are the only mode of transportation, and brought her to a hospital in Jafarabad. ANI reported that the woman successfully delivered a baby boy and condition of both the child and mother is stable.

How a cyclone is formed?

NASA explains the formation of a tropical cyclone in the following way: Tropical cyclones are like giant engines that use warm, moist air as fuel. That is why they form only over warm ocean waters near the equator. The warm, moist air over the ocean rises upward from near the surface. Because this air moves up and away from the surface, there is less air left near the surface.

Air from surrounding areas with higher air pressure pushes in to the low pressure area. Then that “new” air becomes warm and moist and rises, too. As the warm air continues to rise, the surrounding air swirls in to take its place. As the warmed, moist air rises and cools off, the water in the air forms clouds. The whole system of clouds and wind spins and grows, fed by the ocean’s heat and water evaporating from the surface.  As the storm system rotates faster and faster, an eye forms in the center. 

Cyclone Vayu likely to move north-northwest 

According to a release by the India Meteorological Department, Ahmedabad, Very Severe Cyclonic Storm, Vayu is 160 km south-southwest of Diu, 110 km southwest of Veraval (Gujarat) and 140 km south of Porbandar (Gujarat).

It is very likely to move north-northwest for some time and then north-west skirting the Saurashtra coast affecting Gir Somnath, Diu, Junagarh, Porbandar and Devbhoomi Dwarka with wind speed 135-145 kmph gusting to 160 kmph.

Red alert for heavy rains, damaging winds despite Cyclone Vayu missing Gujarat

Cyclone Vayu will not make landfall but would now just skirt the Gujarat coast. However, as the system is sustaining strength of category 2 typhoon, Gujarat continues to be under red alert. 

According to SkymetWeather , Gujarat might have escaped the Cyclone Vayu fury but it remains susceptible to heavy to very heavy rains along with high speed winds. Areas such as Amreli, Gir Somnath, Diu, Junagarh, Porbandar, Rajkot, Jamnagar, and Dwarka would see widespread rainfall with heavy to very heavy rains. Few places might also see extremely heavy rains today leading to inundation in low lying areas.

Cyclone Vayu to completely abate by Saturday, says Indian Coast Guard  

Iqbal Singh Chauhan, DIG of Coast Guard, Porbandar, addressing media persons, said it would be Saturday before the cyclone completely crosses over into the sea at Dwaraka.

“The next 50-60 hours will be very important for Gujarat. To all our fishermen and coastal residents, we request you to move to safer places. If you live in kachha house, please go to the relief camps set up by the state government because the wind speeds are going to very high and the sea is expected to surge to about 1-1.5 metres. I want to inform all the citizens of India that the pre-emptive steps taken by the administration, government agencies and armed forces will ensure that there is no loss of life.”

Input by Masuma Jariwala/101Reporters

AAI says no damage so far to airport infrastructure in Gujarat

The impact of cyclone Vayu has been milder at most airports in Gujarat and there has been no damage to aerodromes’ infrastructure so far, Airports Authority of India (AAI) said Thursday. To avoid disruptions and damages to infrastructure, the AAI has suspended flight operations at airports in Porbandar, Diu, Bhavnagar, Keshod and Kandla for 24 hours starting midnight Wednesday. Citing updates given by airport directors, the AAI said effect of the cyclone has been milder at most of the airports of Gujarat.

PTI

NDRF team rescues and shifts a pregnant woman from Cyclone Vayu-hit area 

A team of Indian Coastguard and NDRF successfully resqued a woman  who was in the last trimester of her pregnancy and went into premature labour at Siyalbet (an island off Rajula coast in Gujarat’s Amreli district) medical center. The joint team brought the woman to the mainland where a team of doctors took her to a centre with NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care unit) facilities, News18 reported. 

Gujarat BJP chief Jitu Vaghani prayed at Somnath temple for people’s safety 

BJP state president, Jitu Vaghani was at Somnath Temple earlier today to pray for the safety of people in the wake of Cyclone Vayu. It is noteworthy here that the IMD had issued severe warnings for the Gir Somnath district advising people not to venture out. However, the temple remained open even as a few sheds within the premises were blown away by winds, ANI reported.  Gujarat minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama said that pooja can’t be stopped as it has been going on since many years. 

Image by Masuma Jariwala/101Reporters

IMD’s latest bulletin says Cyclone Vayu practically stationary in past few hours, likely to head northwestwards

The latest bulletin of the Indian Meteorological Department said that the storm has practically been stationary near Lat 20.5 degree North. and Long 69.4 degree East. 

Amit Shah, Narendra Modi in constant touch with Gujarat CM over cyclone preparedness 

State Revenue Minister Kaushik Patel addressed the media at the State Emergency Operation Centre. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are in constant touch with Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani. He also mentioned that a few senior ministers have gone to the affected districts to coordinate and review the situation.

Input by Amit Cowper/101Reporters

Citizens advised to remain in shelters even as IMD says cyclone may not hit coast 

Pankaj Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary of Gujarat’s Revenue Department says that the state will continue to be on high alert despite the storm shifting its course. “Persons shifted to shelter homes will stay there and others should continue to stay in safe areas. Preparedness is to continue at the same level.” 

In this image, district administration personnel are seen serving meals at a shelter home in Moti Marad village of Dhoraji Taluka in Rajkot district.

Image by Masuma Jariwala/101Reporters

High wind speed of up to 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph likely over north Maharashtra Coast

National Disaster Management Authority of India (NDMA) has tweeted saying, “Gale winds speed of the order of 135-145 kmph gusting to 160 kmph very likely to prevail over the north Arabian Sea and Gujarat coast. It is very likely to be 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph over north Maharashtra Coast and northern parts of east-central Arabian Sea.” 

Gujarat Revenue Secretary says heavy rainfall expected in parts of state 

Addressing a press conference at the SEOC, ACS (Revenue) Pankaj Kumar maintained that according to the bulletin by the state Meteorological Department, Cyclone Vayu is 110 kilometres from Veraval to the south-west and 150 kilometres from Porbandar to the south. The cyclone is moving towards the north and is likely to cross Saurashtra in the afternoon. Cyclone Vayu is predicted to have a wind speed of 135 to 145 kilometres per hour. The weather forecast predicts that several parts of the state will receive very heavy rainfall.

Amit Cowper/101Reporters

Cyclone Vayu to dissolve before reaching Karachi coast, says Skymetweather

After it skirts the Gujarat coast , Vayu is likely to encounter an anti-cyclone over North Arabian Sea which will result its stagnation near the Karachi Coast. There is also a likelihood of Vayu making no landfall and weakening in the sea itself,  Skymetweather  reported.

HAM Radio channels in service to aide communication in Gujarat

HAM radio channels kick into service to aide in public communication. Gandhinagar High Frequency (HF) is on the air, Rajkot-Gandhinagar having 5/9 communication (5/9 means loud and clear) in also active. Rajkot Amateur Club Station is also on air. Currently, three Ham stations are active in Gandhinagar, Rajkot and Veraval. These radio channels prove to be a useful channel of communication when poer is down and other channels are compromised due to a natural calamity. 

Input by Masuma Jariwala/101Reporters

Mumbai, coastal Maharashtra districts get relief from heat due to Cyclone Vayu 

While heading towards Gujarat earlier, the cyclonic storm had brought some good spell of rain to Mumbai and neighbouring Raigad, Thane and Palghar districts of Maharashtra, News18 reported. The mega city, earlier reeling under an intense spell of humid heat, saw a drop in temperatures since Tuesday night as the deep depression over Arabian Sea intensified into a cyclonic storm and neared the coast, bringing pre-monsoon showers.

Cyclone Vayu may weaken into Category 1 storm but squally winds may still cause damage: Skymetweather

The system would continue to travel in water but the proximity of coast might lead to its weakening. Very severe Cyclone Vayu which at present is Category 2 storm may weaken into a Category 1 storm. However, the system would be packed with the winds to the tune of 135 kmph to 145 kmph gusting up to 175 kmph may cause damage.

As per weatherman, the reason behind the change in the track is that Vayu would encounter with weak steering environment.

Eye of storm will not enter Gujarat

Speaking to reporters in Ahmedabad, the meteorological department’s Additional Director Manorama Mohanti said the direction has “slightly” changed. “The ‘very severe’ cyclonic storm Vayu will not make landfall on the Saurashtra coast, but it will skirt the coast and affect Gir-Somnath, Junagadh, Porbandar, Devbhoomi-Dwarka districts and Union Territory Diu,” she said. “The eye of the storm will not enter Gujarat, but half of the storm, the outer peripheral part, will enter the state and affect the coastal areas,” Mohanti said.

IMD warns of power outage, gale winds, very rough sea conditions even as Vayu to brush past Gujarat Coast

According to  The Weather Channel , Cyclone Vayu’s possible impact could be:

• > 70 mm rain in southwest Gujarat over the next 48 hours
• > Gale winds of 100 kmph expected along southwest coast of Gujarat
• > Up to 9 metre-high waves off Veraval today
• > Flash flooding, storm surge, downed trees, power outages and damage to buildings may be expected

IMD warns cyclone can cause substantial damage even without hitting ground 

“Even though Cyclone Vayu is not hitting Gujarat there is still a danger of destruction. We are expecting winds to hit speeds of 100 to 135 kilometres per hour. The NDRF and coast guard have evacuated many areas along the coastline as a precaution,” Jayant Sarkar IMD Ahmedabad told News18. 

The weather department’s bulletin later clarified: Total destruction of thatched houses/extensive damage to Kutcha houses. Some damage to pucca houses. Potential threat from flying objects.(ii) Bending/uprooting of power and communication poles. (iii) Major damage to Kutcha and Pucca roads. Flooding of escape routes. Minor disruption of railways, overhead power lines and signalling systems.
(iv) Widespread damage to standing crops, plantation, orchards, falling of green coconuts and
tearing of palm fronds. Blowing down bushy trees like mango.(v) Small boats, country crafts
may get detached from moorings, can be expected.

Gujarat coastal areas to experience winds up to 160kmph

According to the Gujarat Information Department, the Very Severe Cyclonic Storm VAYU lies near latitude 20.0°N and longitude 69.6°E over East Central and adjoining Northeast Arabian Sea, 130 kilometre southwest of Veraval (Gujarat) and 180 km nearly south of Porbandar (Gujarat).

It is very likely to move North-Northwestwards for some time and then Northwestwards skirting the Saurashtra coast affecting Gir Somnath, Diu, Junagarh, Porbandar and Dev Bhoomi Dwarka with wind speed 135-145 kmph gusting to 160 kmph from afternoon of 13th June 2019.

Input by Amit Cowper/101Reporters

IMD says Cyclone Vayu to affect Gir Somnath, Diu, Porbandar, Dwarka 

The very severe cyclonic storm “vayu” is very likely to move north-northeastwards for some time and then northwstwards skirting the saurashtra coast affecting Gir Somnath, Diu, Junagarh, Porbandar and Devbhoomi Dwarka with wind speed 135-145 kmph gusting to 160 kmph from afternoon of 13 June 2019.

Cyclone Vayu may weaken into Category 1 storm after skirting Gujarat coast, but high wind speeds still likely in coastal areas 

Cyclone Vayu is likely to weaken after skirting the Gujarat coast near Porbandar. The weakening would take place due to its proximity of the coast as it is likely to become a Category 1 storm. However, winds to the tune of 135 kmph to 145 kmph gusting up to 175 kmph may cause damage over the Gujarat coast.

As per Skymetweather, Vayu may encounter weak steering environment, due to which the system could change its track. As the system curves north-northwest, Vayu’s speed will also become slow.

Weather scientist says Cyclone Vayu won’t hit Gujarat but is likely to cause heavy rainfall, gusty winds in coastal districts

Manorama Mohanty, scientist at India Meteorological Department (IMD), Ahmedabad said that Cyclone Vayu won’t hit Gujarat now as it has changed course overnight. It will skirt through coast of Veraval, Porbandar and Dwarka. Its effect will be seen on the coastal regions as there will be heavy wind speed and heavy rain as well.

Flight operations to be suspended in Porbandar, Diu, Bhavnagar, Keshod, Kandla till midnight today

The Airports Authority of India said flight operations at airports in Porbandar, Diu, Bhavnagar, Keshod, Kandla will be suspended for 24 hours from midnight in view of Cyclone Vayu.

Somnath temple open to worshippers despite severe weather warnings, Gujarat minister says can’t stop puja 

The Somnath Temple remained open despite alert issued in view of Cyclone Vayu today. According to ANI several devotees turned up at the temple even as the sheds in the temple premises were blown away by high speed winds.

But reacting to the news, Gujarat minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama told _ANI, “_Temples can’t be closed. We have requested tourists not to visit, but aarti is being performed since many years. It can’t be stopped.

400 Mumbai flights affected due to Cyclone Vayu 

Air passengers to and from the megapolis had a tough time Wednesday as nearly 400 flights were affected due to bad weather caused by the cycle Vayu which hit the neighbouring Gujarat coast, according to an airport official. 

The city airport is one of the busiest in the country handling over 900 aircraft movements daily. The official said as many as 194 departing flights and 192 arrivals were delayed in the wake of the bad weather due to the cyclone Vayu. At least two flights were diverted from the city, the official said. 

Citizen groups take up charge to prepare for impending storm, distribute food packets in affected area 

All Maharashtra beaches in Konkan region shut off to public 

In view of the Cyclone Vayu, which is traversing fast in the Arabian Sea coupled with high tide on 12 and 13 June, all beaches in Konkan region have been shut off to the public.

Here’s NDRF’s advisory to help citizens remain safe during the cyclone-induced poor weather conditions 

Cyclone Vayu changes course but state remains on high alert

The Coast Guard, Army, Navy, Air Force and the Border Security Force have been put on high alert. 

While the state government has said all fishermen and their boats have already returned to the shore after getting the warning, ports have been asked to hoist storm warning signal number 8 and 9 to convey “great danger”.

Based on the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) advice, Great Danger 8 (GD-8) signal has been hoisted at Porbandar and Okha ports, while GD-9 signal has been hoisted at Diu, Veraval, Navlakhi, New-Kandla, Sikka, Mundra, Madvi and Jakhau ports.

Briefing the media about preparations to deal with the cyclone, Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue, Pankaj Kumar said police would do night patrolling in vulnerable areas to make sure no one is left behind.

3 lakh people evacuated from Gujarat, over 10,000 from Diu

Home Minister Amit Shah said Gujarat has evacuated about 3 lakh people and Diu, over 10,000 people from low-lying areas to safer places. Units of the Indian Coast Guard, navy, army and air force are on standby. NDRF teams also carried out evacuation, sensitisation and awareness drives at various locations.

Cyclone Vayu now 130 km from Veraval in Gujarat

Cyclone Vayu over east-central Arabian Sea appears to have changed course overnight. It moved north-northwestwards in the last six hours, according to the India Meteorological Department. It is currently 130 kilometres southwest of Veraval in Gujarat and 180 kilometres south of Porbandar. It is likely to move north-northwestwards for some time and then northwestwards, skirting the coast of Saurashtra with wind speeds of 135 kmph to 145 kmph from Thursday afternoon.

Damage reported from Somnath Temple in Gujarat

The shed at the entrance of Somnath Temple in Gir Somnath district was damaged by the strong winds brought in by the effect of the approaching Cyclone Vayu.

Rescue teams on standby, including army and navy warships

As many as 52 NDRF teams, comprising around 45 rescuers each, are in Gujarat, with some already helping out with the evacuation operation. Ten columns of the Indian Army are on standby, along with warships and aircraft of the Indian Navy, all at the ready to assist to civil authorities.

Approaching Cyclone Vayu has 10 districts of Gujarat on alert

On Thursday, an alert was sounded in 10 districts of Gujarat as Cyclone Vayu has turned “very severe”. Residents of these districts have been asked to move out to safer places or cyclone shelters.

Impact of Cyclone Vayu expected to remain strong for 24 hours after landfall

The impact of Cyclone Vayu is expected to remain strong for 24 hours even after its landfall, officials said. Usually, a cyclone weakens after making landfall.

Cyclone Vayu expected to make landfall in Gujarat today afternoon

According to the IMD, the ‘very severe cylonic storm’ is expected to hit Gujarat on Thursday afternoon between Porbandar and Diu.