Cyclone 'Kyarr' likely to intensify into a 'Super Cyclonic Storm', IMD issues advisory

Cyclone Kyarr, that was put in 'Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm' category by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has been further predicted to intensify into a 'Super cyclonic storm' with wind speeds reaching 255-265 kmph gusting to 290 kmph.

The weather agency said the cyclone over the east-central Arabian Sea moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 13 kmph during midnight over the east-central Arabian Sea and laid centred at 5:30 AM, about 540 km west-southwest of Mumbai.

"Sea condition will be phenomenal over east-central Arabian Sea around the system centre till 30th October and improve gradually thereafter becoming High to very rough from the evening of 31st October. It is very likely to become phenomenal around the system centre over west-central Arabian Sea from 28th to 30th October evening and will become High to very High during the subsequent 48 hours", the agency said in an update.

The cyclone will not bring any rainfall during this period. However, IMD warned of wind speed reaching 215-225 kmph over the east-central Arabian Sea which is likely to reach 255-265 kmph gusting to 290 kmph.

"Gale wind, speed reaching 215-225 kmph gusting to 250 kmph, is prevailing around the system centre over East-central Arabian Sea and very likely to increase gradually becoming 255-265 kmph gusting to 290 kmph by early hours of 28th October over east-central & adjoining west-central Arabian Sea around the system centre", it said in the update.

Fishermen have been warned not to venture into the sea.

The Indian Coast Guard has said that it has so far rescued 19 fishermen and escorted more than 2100 fishing boats to safety at various ports in the West Coast.

Ten ICG ships have been deployed for locating the fishing boats and rendering assistance to stranded fishermen in affected areas along the impact areas of cyclones, it said.

Four ICG Dornier aircraft have been tasked for area scan and to locate stranded fishing boats. Two ICG Helo sorties have been augmented for area scan and to locate stranded fishing boats, it further said.

(Inputs from DNAIndia.com)