Heavy rainfall likely along Gujarat, Saurashtra coasts today amid forecast of Cyclone Maha intensifying into 'very severe storm'

New Delhi: According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), under the influence of Severe Cyclonic Storm Maha, heavy rainfall is likely over Gujarat and Saurashtra coasts on Sunday. [caption id=“attachment_6561321” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. AP[/caption] The weather forecast agency also predicted that under the influence of the low-pressure area over the Andaman Sea, heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places is very likely over Andaman and Nicobar Islands from 3 to 6 November. The Severe Cyclonic Storm Maha which was hovering over the east-central Arabian Sea has now moved towards northwestwards with a speed of 14 kmph in the past six hours. The cyclonic storm is about 520 km south-southwest of Veraval (Gujarat) and 540 km south-southwest of Diu. “It is very likely to move west-northwestwards till November 4 and recurve east-northeastwards towards south Gujarat and adjoining north Maharashtra coasts thereafter,” the IMD stated in its All India Weather Forecast Bulletin. It is very likely to intensify into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm over the east-central Arabian sea during the next 12 hours. However, after the re-curvature, it is very likely to weaken gradually while moving east-northeastwards. The organisation has advised fishermen not to venture into central and northeast Arabian Sea for the next couple of days.