Cyclone Nilofar to bring heavy rains in Gujarat's coastal districts

Ahmedabad:Coastal districts of Gujarat would receive isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall from 30 October as Cyclone Nilofar would intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours, India Meteorological Department(IMD) said on Monday.

 The cyclonic storm Nilofar over westcentral and adjoining southwest Arabian Sea moved slightly northwards and lay centred at 1730 hours today about 1240 kms southwest of Naliya (Gujarat), 1300 kms south-southwest of Karachi in Pakistan and 900 kms east-southeast of Salalah (Oman), an IMD statement said.

 It would intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours and it would move initially north-northwestwards during the next 48 hrs and then recurve northeastwards reaching north Gujarat and adjoining Pakistan coast by October 31 morning.  'Under the influence of this system, rainfall at many places with isolated heavy to very heavy falls would commence along coastal districts of Saurashtra and Kutch from October 30 morning,' the statement said.

 Squally winds speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph would commence along and off Gujarat coast from October 30 morning. Sea condition along and off Gujarat coast will be rough to very rough from the same period, it added. The statement said that fishermen out at sea along and off Gujarat coast should return to the coast.