IMD sounds cyclone alert in Maharashtra

The weather office in Mumbai has sounded a cyclone alert for the coastal regions of south Gujarat and north Maharashtra, where it is expected to make a landfall in the early hours of Thursday.

Weather scientists are tracking a deep depression formed in the Southeast and adjoining Central Arabian Sea, which is moving in the northwest direction and to hit south Gujarat.

 "The system is likely to intensify further into a cyclonic storm and move in a northerly direction for some more time and then north-northeastwards and cross south Gujarat and north Maharashtra coast between Mahuva and Dahanu by early hours of November 12," an alert issued by the India Meteorological Department said.

As a result of the deep depression, coastal parts of Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra are expected to experience squally winds with speed of up to 75 km per hour over the next two days.

Sea condition will be very rough over Lakshadweep area, along and off Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra coasts, it said adding that fishermen are advised not to venture out into the sea along and off these coasts.

The weather system is expected to bring heavy rains over Konkan, Goa, central Maharashtra, coastal Karnataka, Kerala and Lakshadweep over the next two days.