Expect rains, a rough sea, damage to crops and property
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) expects Cyclone Maha's landfall on November 6 in between Diu and Porbandar.
Maha intensified into an extremely severe cyclonic storm but is expected to weaken into a severe cyclonic storm at landfall. This can mean wind speed of 100-110 kilometres per hour, gusting up to 125 kmph.
Maha will bring heavy or very heavy rainfall over southern Gujarat and Saurashtra coasts as well as in some parts of western Maharashtra. There may be isol;ated rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and western Madhya Pradesh.
It can devastate crops in coastal areas, thatched houses, communication and power lines. The National Disaster Relief Force and National Coast Guards have been deployed to respond to any probable situation.
As seas may be rough by the Gujarat and Maharashtra coast, IMD has advised fishermen to not venture into teh the sea.
Cyclone Maha is the third cyclone formed in the Arabian sea this year after Cyclone Vayu in June and Cyclone Kyarr in October.
Meanwhile, on India's east coast, Odisha was preparing for Cyclone Bulbul. The state faced the fury of Cyclone Fani in May.
Incidents of cyclones have shot up of late. While India faced seven such storms in 2018 — a 33-year record — 2019 is likely to be worse. Such cyclones not only make the sea rough and disturb life at landfall, but also affect weather patterns inland.
While Bay of Bengal was earlier the theatre of most such cyclones, more and more storms are forming in the Arabian Oceas as well in a more erratic world of climate change.
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