Cyclone Tauktae Continues to Intensify as Landfall Expected Monday
Cyclone Tauktae continue its rapid intensification overnight local time. As of writing, Tauktae is 142 kilometers Southwest of Mumbai packing 1-min winds of 225 kph (140mph), making it a Category 4-equivalent cyclone and central pressure of 935 millibars; while the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has it at 3-min winds of 155 kph (95 mph). Force Thirteen and the IMD both forecast a landfall in Gujirat State Monday late evening or Tuesday early morning local time as a powerful cyclone.
Rainfall warnings have been hoisted in Kerala, Konkan, Goa, Gujirat, and Rajasthan due to the significant rainfall expected. Storm surge warning about 3 meters over Amreli, Gir Somnath, Die, amd Bhavnagar; 2-3 meters over Bharuch, Anand, Southern Parts of Ahmedabad; 1-2 meters over Surat, Navsari, Valsad; and 0.5 to 1 meter over the remaining coastal districts of Gujirat.
The cyclone already left six deaths, hundreds of houses damaged, and electricity poles and trees uprooted, mostly in the states of Goa and Karnataka. All flights in and out of Goa are currently suspended due to the storm. Indian Coast Guard has ensured the safe return of 5,600 boats to the shores as authorities ordered suspension of fishing operations in East Central Arabian Sea.
The water level in many dams across Kerala showed a rising trend after heavy rains in the catchment areas, prompting authorities to sound an alert. IMD expected waves as high as three meters is expected and the heaviest rainfall Gujirat. Families living in banks river associated to Peringalkuthu has been advised to be cautious. Shutters of Malankara dam in Idukki opened on Sunday. The Gujirat government already evacuated 150,000 from the vulnerable areas of the state as the IMD expect the cyclone bring waves as high as three meters in some areas, and the heavy rainfall.
Sources:
• https://twitter.com/ForceThirteen/status/1394034384437751813 • https://twitter.com/ForceThirteen/status/1393996877285056515
• https://mausam.imd.gov.in/imd_latest/contents/cyclone.php#.
• https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cyclone-tauktae-intensifies-6-dead-gujarat-braces-for-impact-101621181807736.html
• https://www.deccanherald.com/national/cyclone-tauktae-mumbai-maharashtra-gujarat-kerala-karnataka-imd-bmc-impact-986407.html#1
• https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/16/world/asia/India-cyclone-tauktae.html
Article by Justine, adapted and formatted by Preston Schenk
