Cyclone Shakthi, the first cyclonic storm of the post-monsoon season in the Arabian Sea, is expected to bring light to moderate rains to parts of Eastern Vidarbha over the next 2–3 days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday said that moisture accumulation in the region is contributing to rainfall activity.
“The cyclone will primarily impact the coastal districts of Maharashtra and Gujarat in the coming days. Its effect on Vidarbha and Madhya Maharashtra will be comparatively lower, as the intensity decreases after landfall,” said Pravin Kumar, Scientist C at the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Nagpur.
Cyclone Shakthi, now a severe cyclonic storm, is churning the Arabian Sea with wind speeds reaching 100 kmph, accompanied by gusty conditions. The light to moderate rains in Vidarbha over the next couple of days may be accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds.
Currently, Shakthi is centred about 420 km from Dwarka, Gujarat, and is moving west-southwest over the Arabian Sea. It is expected to reach the northwest and adjoining west-central Arabian Sea by Sunday. From Monday morning, the cyclone is likely to recurve east-northeastwards and weaken gradually, according to the weather department.
Nagpur has already felt the cyclone’s effects, with patchy light showers, thunderstorms, and gusty winds reported on Saturday evening. South and southwest Nagpur received rainfall, while other areas remained dry. In West Nagpur, thunderstorms uprooted a few trees, and temporary power outages were reported in some localities.
Gadchiroli and Gondia districts also recorded light rainfall, with 6 mm and 7 mm respectively. Despite the showers, maximum temperatures across Vidarbha remained above 32°C on Saturday, though East Vidarbha may see a 1–2°C drop in the coming days.
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