Cyclone Shakti: IMD warns of heavy rainfall and strong winds along Maharashtra coast | Highlights

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

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.

According to news agency PTI, the name, Cyclone Shakti, was given by Sri Lanka as per the convention followed by the WMO/ESCAP Panel.

The IMD has issued an alert for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg because of Cyclone Shakti.

Abhimanyu Chauhan from IMD, Ahmedabad, said: "Cyclone Shakthi will recurve on October 6 morning moving towards East-Northeast direction. However, there is no need to panic as the impact over Gujarat will be minimal. On October 8, there will be heavy rainfall in some parts of Gujarat - Dwarka, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Surat, Navsari, Valsad, Daman, and Dadra Nagar Haveli."

In an X post, IMD said Cyclone Shakti will likely move west-southwestwards and reach northwest and adjoining west central Arabian Sea by October 5. "Thereafter, it will recurve and move east-northeastwards from morning of 6th October 2025 and weaken gradually," it said. 

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Shakti is steadily moving toward the Gujarat coast and will continue to intensify until October 5. The system is expected to take a U-turn on October 6, shifting direction toward Gujarat before gradually weakening. The IMD forecast warns of rainfall across several parts of Gujarat for the next seven days, with moderate to heavy rain likely in Dwarka, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Surat, Navsari, and Valsad on October 8. Light showers are also expected at scattered locations in Ahmedabad. Officials have advised fishermen not to venture into the sea for the next five days, as conditions are expected to remain very rough. Meteorologist Abhimanyu Chauhan stated that while the cyclone will have a noticeable impact on Gujarat’s weather, its speed is likely to reduce once it approaches the coast.

(With inputs from Nirnay Kapoor) 

Influenced by the storm, sea conditions are expected to remain rough to very rough along the Gujarat–North Maharashtra and Pakistan coasts until Sunday (October 5). The IMD has advised fishermen not to venture into the northwest, northeast, and central Arabian Sea, or along the Gujarat–North Maharashtra coastline, until Tuesday due to the potential for high waves and strong winds.

The name Shakti was suggested by Sri Lanka under the naming convention of the World Meteorological Organisation/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones, which oversees cyclone names for the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea regions. The panel comprises 13 member countries, each contributing names for future storms in rotation. With Cyclone Shakti gaining strength, authorities continue to monitor its path closely, given its potential impact on coastal waters and regional weather conditions.

The Arabian Sea typically witnesses fewer cyclones than the Bay of Bengal, but in recent years, it has seen powerful storms like Cyclone Tauktae (2021) and Cyclone Biparjoy (2023). Experts attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of such storms to rising sea surface temperatures and changing climate patterns in the region.

The IMD reported that Cyclone Shakhti was centred approximately 420 km southwest of Dwarka, Gujarat, and is expected to move west-southwestwards over the sea. The system is likely to reach the northwest and adjoining west-central Arabian Sea by Sunday before changing course. Meteorologists predict that from Monday morning (October 6), Shakhti will recurve east-northeastwards, moving back toward the Indian coast while gradually weakening into a less intense system.

Cyclone Shakhti, the first cyclonic storm of the post-monsoon season in the Arabian Sea, has intensified into a severe weather system, generating winds of up to 100 kmph with even stronger gusts. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the storm continues to strengthen as it churns over the open sea.

Fishermen are advised to avoid venturing into the sea.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy to very heavy rains in the interior parts of Maharashtra, particularly in East Vidarbha and parts of Marathwada, with a possibility of flooding in the low-lying areas of North Konkan due to intense cloud formation and infiltration of moisture into the atmosphere.

The warning covers Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg. The wind speed, reaching 45-55 kmph and gusting to 65 kmph, is likely to prevail over the North Maharashtra coast between October 3 and 5. The wind speed may increase depending on the cyclone's intensity. The Sea conditions are very rough, with rough seas expected along the nothern Maharashtra coast until October 5.

IMD says Cyclonic Storm Shakhti is likely to move west-southwestwards and intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm on Saturday (October 4).

According to the release, the warning covers Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg. The wind speed, reaching 45-55 kmph and gusting to 65 kmph, is likely to prevail over the North Maharashtra coast between October 3 and 5.The wind speed may increase depending on the cyclone's intensity. The Sea conditions are very rough, with rough seas expected along the nothern Maharashtra coast until October 5.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued cyclone 'Shakti' warning for some districts of Maharashtra, with high to moderate cyclone warning between October 3 and 7.