Cyclone Biparjoy is about 890 kilometeres west southwest of Goa this morning and is expected to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm over the next 24 hours.
‘Severe Cyclonic storm Biparjoy over east central and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea at 0530 IST of 7th June, near lat 12.6N and lon 66.1E, about 890 km WSW of Goa. Likely to move nearly northwards and intensify into VSCS during next 24 hrs,’ the India Meteorological Department (IMD) tweeted.
The storm could influence the onset of the monsoon in India, with mild rains on June 8 and 9.
The monsoon may struggle to reach beyond the Western Ghats due to the cyclonic movements in the Arabian Sea.
The formation of a low-pressure system in the Arabian Sea means the monsoon may be delayed by a few days. The IMD had earlier stated that India is expected to have normal rainfall during the monsoon season, in spite of the evolving El Nino conditions.
Gale wind speed could reach 135-145 kmph, gusting to 170 kmph by June 10.
Fishermen have been warned not to venture into the Arabian Sea for the next few days, as sea conditions will remain rough off the Konkan-Goa-Maharashtra coasts from June 8 to June 10.