Cyclonic storm Phet approaching Gujarat
By IANSTuesday, June 1, 2010
MUMBAI - Cyclonic storm Phet in the Arabian Sea is expected to move towards Gujarat over the next three days, weather officials said here Tuesday evening.
On Tuesday, the storm, which lay centred around 1,140 km west of Mumbai in sea, notched wind speeds of up to 85 kmph and as it builds up in intensity, there could be gusty winds of up to 160 kmph, the officials said.
Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa have been put on alert since the severity of Phet could intensify as it travels towards north in the next three days.
The Maharashtra weather bureau has advised fishermen to refrain from venturing out into the seas.
Under the influence of Phet, there will be widespread rainfall with heavy to very heavy rains over coastal areas of Gujarat from Wednesday.
Winds with speeds reaching 75 kmph would commence along and off Gujarat coast from Wednesday and increase gradually, the weather bureau said.
The weather bureau expects Phet to move slowly in a north-northwesterly direction Wednesday, towards Gujarat.
Many parts of western Maharashtra, including Pune, Nashik, Ahmednagar, Satara and coastal Ratnagiri have been experiencing heavy pre-monsoon rains since Monday.
