• Source:JND
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Cyclone Shakti Update: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday confirmed that the deep depression over the northern Arabian Sea has intensified into a cyclonic storm and it will move west-southwestward to further intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the next 24 hours.

Earlier, the IMD had informed that the deep depression was moving west-northwestwards at a speed of 12 kmph. At 8:30 AM on October 3, the depression was centered about 240 km west-southwest of Dwarka and 270 km west of Porbandar.

In the next three hours, this depression moved west-northwestwards and intensified into a cyclonic storm, lying centred at 250 km from Dwarka.

Present condition of Shakti

As of now, the depression is expected to move westwards for some time and then west-southwestwards to strengthen further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours.

The INSAT-3D satellite image shows a vortex over the northeastern Arabian Sea. Scattered to scattered low and medium clouds, with intense to very intense convection, are visible over the northern and adjoining central Arabian Sea, as well as the Kutch region and Gulf of Kutch. Earlier, the IMD posted an update on X detailing the likely path of the upcoming Cyclone Shakti.

Why was the cyclone named Shakti?

The name 'Shakti' follows a regional naming system established in 2004 for cyclones in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, managed by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

As part of this arrangement, the name "Shakti" was suggested by Sri Lanka. The word "Shakti" is an ancient, rich Tamil word meaning "power."

IMD warning

The weather department has issued warnings for strong winds and rough seas over the Arabian Sea. Squally winds of 55-65 kmph, often gusting at a speed of 75 kmph, are prevailing over the Arabian Sea.

The winds are further expected to intensify to 75-85 kmph, often gusting to 95 kmph, from 5.30 PM on Friday. The squally winds may further gust up to 125 kmph from the evening of October 4 to 8:30 AM on October 6.