Heavy rainfall likely as cyclone Tauktae hurtles towards Gujarat

Panaji: The state will witness the impact of cyclone Tauktae on Sunday as heavy to very heavy rainfall in a few places has been forecast over Goa and ghat areas.
The Goa government machinery geared up as the cyclone will come closest to Goa's coast on Sunday. As the depression over Arabian Sea intensified into cyclone Tauktae, as of Saturday evening, the cyclone was around 190km South-South West of Panaji. It will be at its closest to Goa coast upto 12 noon on Sunday.
The weather was mostly dry till Saturday evening after a noisy thunderstorm and moderate rain overnight while the extreme weather system in southeast Arabian Sea intensified into a cyclonic storm on Saturday and later into a severe cyclonic storm by evening.
India meteorological department (IMD), Panaji, has forecast light to moderate rainfall at most places and heavy to very heavy fall at a few places in Goa and south Konkan on Saturday. The precipitation is likely to intensify on Sunday, as heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places is expected over Goa, Konkan and adjoining ghat areas.
IMD, Panaji, has also issued a warning about wind speeds, as also impact on property and nature due to rain and related conditions.“Gale wind speed will increase to 60 to 70kmph gusting to 80kmph along and off south Maharashtra and Goa coast on Sunday,” scientist at IMD, Panaji, Rahul M said.
By Saturday evening, as forecast by the Panaji centre, some coastal residents reported a rise in seawater level and high waves crashing onto the shore. High waves tossed small boats around at Baga.
A port warning for Maharashtra and Goa coasts has been issued and ports have been instructed to hoist local cautionary signal no III at all these ports, including Mormugao