The weather office on Tuesday 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.
An alert has been issued in the districts of south Gujarat by state officials following a warning of deep depression in the Arabian Sea that is likely to convert into a cyclonic circulation and hit South Gujarat coast.
Fisherman have been advised not to go in the sea and ports in the region have been asked to put alert signals.
"We have issued warning to all the coastal villages to remain on high alert following the warning about deep depression in the Arabian sea," Surat district officials said.
Valsad district on Tuesday received unseasonal rains. District administration has also issued alert on the coastal villages, officials said.
The state meteorological department said that, "latest satellite and coastal observations indicate that a deep depression lies centred at east central Arabian Sea."
"The system is likely to intensify further into a cyclonic storm and move in north-direction for some time and then north-northeastwards and cross south Gujarat and north Kinking coast between Mahuva and Dahanu by early hours of 12th November, 2009," the MeT said.
According to the MeT department, light to moderate rains are likely to occur at isolated places in South Gujarat in the next 24 hours. PTI
