The severe cyclonic storm Shakhti over the northwest and northeast Arabian Sea is unlikely to have a major impact on Goa as it moves west-southwest, away from the Indian coast. The storm, which evolved from a deep depression on Friday, was centred about 470 km west of Dwarka and 420 km southwest of Karachi by Saturday morning, moving at 18 km/h.
According to retired NIO chief scientist and meteorologist M R Ramesh Kumar, “Its impact on Goa will be minimal unless it changes course towards Gujarat or Maharashtra in the coming days.”
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Shakhti is the latest in a growing number of cyclones in the Arabian Sea, with 25 of the 70 such systems over peninsular India forming here in the past 15 years. Favorable conditions for its formation included sea surface temperatures above 27°C, low vertical wind shear, and sufficient mid-tropospheric moisture.
While Goa faces minimal threat, Maharashtra is on alert, and fishermen have been advised to avoid the seas. The local IMD has forecast light to moderate rainfall over Goa in the coming days.
