Extremely Severe Cyclone Storm Tauktae landfall process started around 8.30pm and is likely to go on till 11pm. The eye of the cyclone could be seen with 40km diameter just short of the coast, though becoming ragged. The cyclone is making landfall east of Diu by about 35km in the Bhavnagar district. Diu winds were already gusting to 90kmh at this time and is likely to be in excess of 160kmh.
The landfall process gets complete when the rear portion of the inner ring os storm crosses over to land which is likely by 11pm. The storm will weaken after moving inland but continue to remain a significant storm for the next 12hr when it crosses the entire stretch of Saurashtra.
Extremely heavy rainfall accompanied with gale speed winds are expected over Diu, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Mahuva, Gir Somnath, Veraval and Junagadh. Next 6 hrs, heavy rainfall belt will cover Rajkot, Morbi, Ahmedabad, Anand, Gandhinagar and further on to North Gujarat. Skymet will keep close watch and apprise accordingly.
