Cyclonic storm ‘Biparjoy’ has developed over the east-central and southeast Arabian Sea near Goa, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The storm is expected to move in a northerly direction and intensify over the next 24 hours, becoming a severe cyclonic storm and, eventually, a very severe cyclonic storm. As of the IMD’s morning bulletin, the storm remained nearly stationary, centred at latitude 12.5°N and longitude 66.0°E, approximately 900 km west-southwest of Goa.
Gale winds with speeds ranging from 80-90 km per hour to 100 km per hour are predicted over the east-central Arabian Sea and adjacent areas of the west-central and southeast Arabian Sea. These winds are expected to further escalate to 105-115 km per hour to 125 km per hour from Wednesday evening. The regions bordering the west-central and south Arabian Sea and the northern coasts of Kerala, Karnataka, and Goa may experience squally winds with speeds of 40-50 km per hour to 60 km per hour.
The IMD has stated that the formation and movement of Cyclone Biparjoy in the Arabian Sea, along with its intensity, could impact the onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala.
