Cyclone Tauktae intensifies into severe cyclonic storm, alert for Gujarat and Diu coasts

Cyclone Tauktae on Saturday evening intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over east central Arabian Sea. The cyclone is likely to reach Gujarat coast on the morning of May 18.

Cyclone Tauktae (pronounced as TauTe) intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over east central Arabian Sea on Saturday evening. The CS “Tauktae” intensified into a SCS, lay centred at 1730 IST of 15th May over eastcentral Arabian Sea, about 220 km SSW of Panjim-Goa, 590 km SSW of Mumbai. Likely to intensify further into a VSCS & cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar & Naliya around 18th May A/N /Evening. pic.twitter.com/1nScsezDhD Reviewed preparedness on Cyclone Tauktae including ensuring essential supplies, continuing the COVID-19 fight and more. Praying for everyone’s safety and well-being. https://t.co/u5TShCdeC1 — India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 15, 2021 — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 15, 2021 As per updates from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclonic storm moved nearly northwards with a speed of 12 kilometres per hour. It lay centred at 5:30 pm on Saturday over east central Arabian Sea near latitude 13.8°N and longitude 72.7°E, about 220 km south-southwest of Panjim-Goa, 590 km south-southwest of Mumbai, 820 km south-southeast of Veraval (Gujarat) and 940 km south-southeast of Karachi (Pakistan).