Where is Cyclone ‘Shakhti’ now? Maharashtra, Gujarat on alert as officials warn of 100 kmph winds

The IMD warns Maharashtra of Cyclone Shakhti forming over the Arabian Sea, forecasting heavy rainfall and strong winds.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning for Maharashtra as Cyclone ‘Shakhti’ forms over the Arabian Sea, raising the likelihood of heavy rainfall, strong winds, and turbulent sea conditions in the coming days.

The IMD alert, affecting multiple coastal and inland districts, has led state authorities to mobilise disaster management teams and make arrangements for potential evacuations.(Photo for representational purpose only)

The IMD alert, affecting multiple coastal and inland districts, has led state authorities to mobilise disaster management teams and make arrangements for potential evacuations.

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Cyclone Shakhti will be the first cyclonic storm of the post-monsoon season in the Arabian Sea and is packing a wind speed of 100 kmph and gusting, news agency PTI reported, citing officials on Saturday.

Where is Cyclone Shakhti right now?

Shakhti, which has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm, was moving further into the Arabian Sea and lay centred about 420 km away from Dwarka in Gujarat, according to the IMD.

At 12 pm on Saturday, the IMD said severe Cyclonic Storm Shakhti over the northwest and adjoining northeast Arabian Sea moved westwards at a speed of 18 kmph over the past six hours.

The weather office has warned fishermen not to venture into the northwest Arabian Sea, adjoining areas of the northeast Arabian Sea, central Arabian Sea and along and off the Gujarat-north Maharashtra coasts until Tuesday.

Past storms in Arabian Sea

In recent years, storms such as Tauktae (2021) and Biparjoy (2023) have formed in the Arabian Sea, which has witnessed fewer cyclones compared to the Bay of Bengal.

Why is it named Cyclone Shakhti, not Shakti?

The name “Shakhti” (with an ‘h’) was proposed by Sri Lanka under the regional cyclone-naming system. This framework involves 13 countries, including Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, submitting names that are used sequentially.

“Shakhti” was next in line once a system reached cyclonic storm strength (34 knots or 62 km/h). Unlike the commonly used Indian term “Shakti”, meaning “power” or “strength", the spelling with an ‘h’ reflects Sri Lanka’s transliteration preferences and the agreed-upon naming conventions.

(With inputs from PTI)