Cyclone Tauktae: Max wind speed of 185 kmph during landfall predicted

Bhubaneswar: The Very Severe Cyclonic Storm “Tauktae” (pronounced as Tau’Te) over east central Arabian Sea is very likely to move north-northwestwards and reach Gujarat coast in the evening hours of 17th May and cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva (Bhavnagar district) during early hours of 18th May as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm with a maximum sustained surface wind speed 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted in its bulletin issued today at 4.15 am.

Wind Warning:

Gale winds speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph is prevailing along & off south Maharashtra –Goa and adjoining Karnataka coasts, 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph along & off north Maharashtra coast during next 12 hours. It is likely to become 65- 75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph along & off north Maharashtra coast from 17th May morning till 18th May morning.

Squally wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph is prevailing over northeast Arabian Sea and along & off south Gujarat & Daman and Diu coasts. It is likely to gradually increase becoming Gale winds speed reaching 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph over northeast Arabian Sea and along & off Gujarat coast (Porbandar, Junagarh, Gir Somnath, Amreli, Bhavnagar) and 120 -140 kmph gusting to 165 kmph over Bharuch, Anand, south Ahmedabad, Botad, 90 -100 kmph gusting to 120 kmph over Devbhoomi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Morbi, Kheda districts of Gujarat from early hours of 18th May. Gale winds speed reaching 70-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph likely to prevail along & off Dadra, Nagar Haveli, Daman, Valsad, Navsari, Surat, Surendranagar, districts from 17th May midnight till 18th May morning.