Cyclone Vayu changes course, unlikely to landfall in Gujarat

KARACHI: Tropical Cyclone Vayu in Arabian sea has changed its course and it will likely not make landfall in Indian state of Gujarat, citing met officials of the country media reports said on Thursday.

Vayu, which had intensified into a ‘very severe cyclonic storm (VSCS)’, has altered its path slightly and will move North-Northwest for some time and then Northwest-wards, the weather report said.

According to earlier reports the cyclone was expected to make landfall in Indian state of Gujarat.

The cyclone will now pass nearby from the coast of Veraval, Porbandar and Dwarka in Gujarat. Cyclone Vayu will return to open sea in result of change in its trajectory and will dissipate after becoming a weak storm, weather experts said.

India has shifted around three Lac people from low-lying areas in Gujarat including Kutch, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Dwarka, Porbandar and Somnath districts.

Impact on Pakistan

Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast that mercury can soar up to 40-42 degree Celsius in the port city today.

Due to the highest ratio of the humidity in the air the ‘feels like’ temperature could shoot to 47-50°C.

The weather experts ruled out any repeat of the conditions of June 2015 when a similar low-pressure area had resulted into killing hundreds of people in Karachi and other parts of Sindh.

Under the influence of Cyclone Vayu, widespread Dust/Thunder-showers with isolated heavy falls are expected in southeast districts of Sindh (Thatta, Badin and Tharparker districts) on Thursday/Friday, met office forecast said. Scattered/isolated Dust-thundershowers may occur in rest of Sindh during the period, it added.