Updated on December 5, 2017 6:00 PM: Cyclone Ockhi: Rains, high velocity winds lash Surat, Rajkot, Valsad, Ahmedabad
Cyclone Ockhi continues to give light to moderate rain and thundershowers over several parts of Gujarat continue since morning hours. In span of 9 hours from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm on Tuesday, Valsad recorded 25 mm of rain, Ahmedabad 9 mm, Surat 4 mm, Junagad 3 mm, Rajkot 2 mm, and Bhavnagar 2 mm.
These rains are accompanied with high velocity winds with the speed of 40-60 kmph.
However, Ockhi has been rapidly weakening ever since it has been inching closer to the Gujarat coast. Ockhi is now seen as a Deep Depression over east-central Arabian Sea. It is presently centered at Latitude 19°N and Longitude 71.3°E, around 260 km southsouthwest of Surat and 140 km west of Mumbai.
According to Skymet Weather, the deep depression would continue to move northnortheastwards. During this time, the system would weaken further and cross the Indian coast between South Gujarat and adjoining North Maharashtra near Surat as a Depression by tonight.
In fact, there is also a possibility of dissipation of the system over the sea before making the landfall as the system is now tracking in unfavorable weather conditions. According to weathermen, the system has entered into relatively cooler sea surface temperatures and high vertical wind shear and both the factors do not support the system.
In wake of this, the cloud mass associated with the system is spreading out. Weathermen expect light to moderate rains to continue over South and Central Gujarat till today. Thereafter, intensity of rains would reduce significantly by Wednesday and only light rains with clouding would persist.
Updated on December 5, 2017 12:10 PM: Cyclone Ockhi nears Gujarat, more rains in Surat, Rajkot, Valsad, Ahmedabad
The month-long dry spell that persisted in the state of Gujarat was eliminated when the rains which were already predicted by Skymet Weather occurred last night. Though the intensity of these showers was light to moderate, these rains helped in plummeting the daytime high by a few notches. However, these rains were mainly confined to the southern and central parts of the state.
The weather models were already predicting some rains for Gujarat which were a result of cyclone Ockhi that started traveling towards northwest India. As of now also, some more rains are expected to continue over Gujarat.
In the last 24 hours, from 08:30 am as on Monday, Mahuva recorded 13 mm of rains, Diu 8 mm, Valsad 7 mm, Surat and Ahmedabad 1 mm, Veraval 0.6 mm while the stations such as Surendranagar, Gandhinagar, Idar, and Kandla witnessed some light traces of rains.
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As per Skymet Weather, these rains can be attributed to the very severe Cyclonic Storm Ockhi that was over east central Arabian Sea, moving towards northwest India. However, the intensity of this weather system has now reduced and at present, it lies over east central Arabian Sea, approx. 480 km south-southwest of Surat and 300 km west-southwest of Mumbai as a severe cyclone.
This system is very likely to continue to move north-northeastwards and weaken further. This will cross South Gujarat and adjoining North Maharashtra coast near Surat as a Deep Depression by midnight of December 5.
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In the wake of this, the intensity of rains is expected to increase and moderate to heavy rains are expected to occur over the south and some districts of the state during the next 24 hours.
The stations such as Daman, Junagadh, Ahmadabad, Amreli, Anand, Aravali, Banaskantha, Bharuch, Bhavnagar, Botad, Dahod, Devbhumi Dwarka, Gandhinagar, Gir Somnath, Jamnagar, Kheda, Mehsana, Mahisagar, Marvi, Narmada, Navsari, Panch Mahals, Patan, Porbandar, Rajkot, Sabarkantha, Surat, Surendranagar, Tapi, the dangs, Vadodara and Valsad are expected to witness moderate rain and thundershower at many places with heavy rain at few places during next 48 hours.
Squally winds in order of 60-70 kmph, reaching up to 80 kmph are also likely. Moreover, the sea conditions are also expected to remain rough to very rough. As the storm surge will be high, this may even lead to local flooding in the low-lying areas.
The weather is expected to start improving by December 7 but until then, it is advised for the locals to stay cautious.
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