Very Severe Cyclonic Storm “Biparjoy” Approaches Saurashtra & Kutch Coasts: Cyclone Warning Issued
New Delhi, June 13, 2023: The India Meteorological Department has issued a cyclone warning for the Saurashtra and Kutch coasts as the Very Severe Cyclonic Storm “Biparjoy” (pronounced as “Biporjoy”) intensifies over the Northeast Arabian Sea.
Moving at a speed of 7 kmph in a north-northwestward direction over the past six hours, “Biparjoy” is expected to continue its northward movement until midnight on the 13th. Thereafter, it will gradually shift towards a north-northeastward path and is predicted to make landfall between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) near Jakhau Port (Gujarat) by the evening of 15th June as a very severe cyclonic storm, with maximum sustained winds of 125-135 kmph, gusting to 150 kmph.
The cyclone’s impact is anticipated to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall to several regions. On 13th June, light to moderate rainfall is expected in Kachchh, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Junagarh, and Rajkot districts of Saurashtra & Kutch, with isolated areas experiencing heavy to very heavy rainfall. The intensity of rainfall is predicted to increase on 14th June, with heavy to very heavy rainfall and extremely heavy falls likely in Kachchh, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Junagarh, and Morbi districts.
The cyclone’s powerful winds are currently reaching 150-160 kmph, gusting to 180 kmph over the Northeast Arabian Sea, but are expected to gradually weaken. Along the Saurashtra and Kutch coasts, squally winds of 50-60 kmph, gusting to 70 kmph, are prevailing and will continue until midnight on the 13th. Gale wind speeds of 65-75 kmph, gusting to 85 kmph, are anticipated from the morning of 14th June along the Porbandar and Devbhoomi Dwarka district coasts. These speeds are projected to reach 125-135 kmph, gusting to 150 kmph, for about 12 hours from the morning of 15th June, affecting Kachchh, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Junagarh, and Morbi districts. Subsequently, wind speeds are expected to gradually decrease to 85-95 kmph, gusting to 105 kmph over Kachchh and adjoining districts by the morning of 16th June and to 45-55 kmph, gusting to 65 kmph by noon on the same day.
The storm surge associated with “Biparjoy” poses a significant threat to low-lying areas of Kachchh, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, and Morbi districts during landfall. A surge of about 2-3 meters above the astronomical tide is likely to inundate these regions, which could experience astronomical tides of up to 3-6 meters in different areas.
