Cyclonic storm Ashobaa is expected to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm and then move northwestwards during next 24 hours.
However, according to the Indian Meteorological Department, the storm system would not affect Indian coasts much due to its west-northwestwards movement.
An IMD release issued at noon on Tuesday said that under the influence of the cyclone, rainfall would occur at most places over south Gujarat during the next 24 hours and over coastal Karnataka, Konkan and Goa with isolated heavy falls during the next 48 hours.
Strong winds speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph would prevail along and off Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra coasts during next 24 hours. Sea condition would be very rough along and off Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra coasts during the next 48 hours, it added.
15-feet high waves off Pakistan
Pakistan’s Met office has issued a cyclone alert, expected waves reaching height of 15 feet, as the country could bear the brunt of the storm as it makes landfall.
In its Tuesday bulletin, Pakistan’s Met office stated: "The Tropical Cyclone Ashobaa in east-central Arabian Sea has slightly drifted northwestward in last six hours at a speed of 10kmph and now lies centered about 700km south of Karachi. The Tropical Cyclone is likely to intensify further and move northwestward in next 24 hours."
The Met department further stated: "The sea conditions along Sindh-Makran coast are likely to remain rough to very rough occasionally high associated with stormy winds from Monday afternoon to Friday."
Why is it called Ashobaa?
The cyclone has been named by Sri Lanka, one of the eight countries on a World Meteorological Panel that chooses the names for cyclones over the north Indian ocean.
The last one, Nilofar, which weakened by the time it arrived in the western state of Gujarat late last year, was named by Pakistan.
Its predecessor, Cyclone Hudhud, which made landfall in Visakhapatnam killed at least eight people.
The next cyclone, whenever that happens, will be Komen, and this name has been given by Thailand.
