A low pressure system hovering over the east central Arabian Sea may intensify into a depression within the next 36 hours, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed on Thursday. The Weather department has issued red alerts for several coastal districts of Maharashtra and Goa, warning of very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall fromFriday through the weekend.
At present, the system remained positioned off the south Konkan – Goa coast and was being fuelled by an upper air cyclonic circulation. Cloud formations over the area indicate “intense to very intense convection,” according to the IMD, a sign of powerful vertical air movement that supports cyclone development.
“A low pressure area lies over east-central Arabian Sea off south Konkan-Goa. It is likely to move nearly northwards and intensify further into a depression during next 36 hours. There is also possibility of its further intensification thereafter,” the IMD stated in its afternoon bulletin.
No Cyclone warning yet- but conditions are ripe
Although no official cyclone warning been issued, IMD scientist Akhil Srivastava indicated that further strengthening of the system was possible. “A warning of extremely heavy rain has been issued in Konkan Goa for the next three days. A red alert has been issued here and heavy rains may occur in the adjoining areas of Central Maharashtra and West Coast. The system could “intensify and move northwards” and may result in “some more movement in the west coast.
Should the depression escalate into a Cyclone Shakhti – a name proposed by Sri Lanka. “Shakhti” is a Tamil word meaning “power.”
Mumbai drenched, red alerts issued further south
Mumbai has already seen a wet lead-up to the weekend. Pre-monsoon showers lashed the city and surrounding areas on wednesday night. The IMD reported 27 mm of rainfall at Santacruz and 10mm at Colaba by Thursday morning.
The showers also brought a sharp dip in temperatures. Santacruz recorded a minimum of 22.5 c – five degree below normal – while daytime highs hovered around 32c, about two degree cooler than average. This May has been expectionally wet for the city. IMD data shows that both Colaba and Santacruz observatories have already logged over 100mm of rainfall – nearly 700% above the month’s average.
An orange alert is now in place for Mumbai, Thane and Palghar while Raigad and Ratnagiri districts are under a red alert for Friday.