Ockhi now ‘Very Severe Cyclonic Storm’; Lakshadweep, Minicoy Islands hit, Mumbai Next

Upgraded as the very severe cyclonic storm, Ockhi  moved to Lakshadweep area and adjoining Southeast Arabian Sea further west-northwestwards with a speed of 10 kmph for the past six hours over Lakshadweep area and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea near Latitude 9.8º N and Longitude 71.0º E, about 280 km northwest of Minicoy and 240 km southwest of Amini Divi.

The system is very likely to weaken gradually from tonight. It is very likely to continue to move northwestwards during next 24 hours and then recurve northeastwards during the subsequent 48 hours, said a statement by the Met department. Mumbai will witness heavy rainfalls on December 5. Here is the detailed path:

The Met Department has also issued a warning of heavy rainfall and rainfall in areas as below: 

Warning:

(i)           Heavy Rainfall warning:

• Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and isolated extremely heavy falls (>20 cm) very likely over north Lakshadweep Islands during next 24 hours and isolated heavy to very heavy falls during subsequent 24 hours. Isolated heavy to very rainfall is very likely over south Lakshadweep Islands during next 24 hours.
• Rainfall at many places with heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely over Kerala during next 24 hours.

(ii)       Wind warning:

• Gale winds speed reaching 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph very likely over & around north Lakshadweep Islands during next 12 hours and gradual decrease thereafter and becoming 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph by tomorrow, the 3^rd December morning. Gale winds speed reaching 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph very likely over and around south Lakshadweep Islands during next 12 hours and gradual decrease thereafter becoming 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph by tomorrow, the 3^rd December morning.
• Squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph very likely along & off Kerala coast during next 24 hours and along & off Karnataka coasts during next 48 hours.

(ii)          Sea condition:

• Sea conditions would be phenomenal over and around north Lakshadweep Islands during next 12 hours and gradually becoming high by tomorrow, the 3^rd December morning. It is very likely to be high to very high over and around south Lakshadweep Islands during next 12 hours and gradually becoming rough to very rough by tomorrow, the 3^rd December morning.
• Sea conditions would be rough to very rough along & off Kerala coast during next 24 hours and along & off Karnataka coast during next 48 hours.

(iii)         Storm surge:

Storm surge of about 1 meter above astronomical tides very likely to inundate low lying areas of north Lakshadweep Islands during next 24 hrs and storm surge of about 0.5 metre above astronomical tides very likely to inundate low lying areas of south Lakshadweep Islands during next 12 hrs.

(iv)         Damage Expected over North Lakshadweep Islands during next 24 hours: Damage to power and communication lines due to breaking of tree branches and uprooting of large avenue trees. Major damage to thatched houses/huts: Major damage to kutcha houses, some damage to pucca roads and flooding of escape routes. Damage to banana & Papaya trees and standing crops.

Damage Expected over South Lakshadweep Islands during next 12 hours: Minor damage to power and communication lines due to breaking of tree branches. Major damage to thatched houses/huts.  Major damage to kutcha houses, minor damage to pucca roads. Some damage to banana & Papaya trees, orchards and standing crops.

(v)          Action suggested

• Lakshadweep Islands: Fishermen around Lakshadweep Islands are advised not to venture into the sea during next 48 hours.
• Kerala & Karnataka coast: Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea along & off Kerala coast during next 24 hrs and along and off Karnataka coast during next 48 hrs.