Tauktae moves inland, continues to deliver life threatening conditions as it weakens.
Cyclone Tauktae has made landfall in Gujarat, India and is now slowly moving inland as it weakens continuing to deliver life-threatening conditions along the way. Currently, it is 47 miles (75 km) north-northeast of Diu, 19 miles (30 km) south of Amreli and 149 miles (240 km) south-southwest of Ahmedabad.
In Gujarat where the storm made landfall with 1-minute winds of 130 mph (210 kph) according to Force thirteen and 3-minute winds of 100 mph (160 kph) according to the India Meteorological Department, there are early reports of widespread devastation as the storm slowly moves inland weakening as it does so with a current estimate of 105 mph (170 kph) 1-minute sustained winds by Force Thirteen and 85 mph (140 kph) 3-minute sustained winds by the IMD which still puts it as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm.
#CycloneTauktae huge damage expected pic.twitter.com/wR8PHcgN1T
— Chaitanya (@chaitanyaw) May 18, 2021
Elsewhere the cyclone has left a trail of destruction as it brushed past the coastal states of Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra over the past few days with Mumbai being especially hit hard with record-breaking winds of 70 mph (114 kph) being recorded in the city as the cyclone brushed the city.
It’s worth noting that rainfall will still be a concern for the entire region as Tauktae slowly weakens. Over 10 inches (250 mm) of rainfall has fallen over the region with a further 10 inches (250 mm) possible as the storm slowly makes its way northward. Regardless of the storm’s current status, it is prudent to remain vigilant in the face of the storm and its effect as life-threatening conditions will persist over the region for the next few days.
Sources:
http://www.rsmcnewdelhi.imd.gov.in/uploads/archive/1/1_46e812_30.%20National%20Bulletin%2020210517_2100%20UTC.pdf
https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/05/17/tauktau-cycone-india-gujarat/
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/cyclone-tauktae-live-updates-very-severe-cyclonic-storm-likely-to-intensify-further-warns-weather-office-2443064
Featured Image by INSAT-3DR
