Cyclone Shakhti strengthens off Gujarat, prompts coastal warnings

Cyclone Shakhti intensified over the Arabian Sea on Friday and was centred roughly 300 kilometres west of Dwarka, Gujarat, the India Meteorological Department said, prompting coastal warnings for parts of Maharashtra and advisories to fishermen to remain ashore. The system, the first cyclonic storm of the post-monsoon season in the Arabian Sea, was moving west northwest at about 8 kilometres per hour and was forecast to strengthen over the next 24 to 48 hours while remaining largely offshore.

The IMD said the storm was likely to move initially westwards and then west-southwestwards, intensifying into a severe cyclonic storm by Saturday morning before gradually weakening from Monday. Under the cyclone's influence sea conditions are expected to be rough to very rough along and off the Gujarat and north Maharashtra coasts and along the Pakistan coast through the weekend. Fishermen were warned not to venture into the northwest, northeast and central Arabian Sea and along Gujarat and north Maharashtra coasts until Tuesday.

Maharashtra state authorities and the IMD placed Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg on alert, issuing high to moderate cyclone warnings for...