New Delhi, September 23: The Cyclonic Storm ‘Hikka’ over northeast and adjoining east central Arabian sea moved nearly westwards with a speed of 17 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centred today morning over the region of about 490km west-southwest of Veraval (Gujarat), 520 km south-southwest of Karachi (Pakistan) and 710 km east-southeast of Masirah (Oman).
The storm is likely to intensify further during next 24 hours and weaken gradually thereafter. It is very likely to move nearly westwards and cross Oman coast during early hours of September 25 as a deep depression.
According to the reports, strong wind, speed reaching 30-40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph, very likely to prevail along & off Gujarat coast during next 12 hours and decrease thereafter. Gale wind, speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph are very likely to prevail over northeast and adjoining east central Arabian Sea, which is likely to become 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph over northeast and adjoining east central Arabian Sea by today evening and decrease thereafter becoming 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph by tomorrow morning.
It is likely to be squally wind speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph, over northwest and adjoining west central Arabian Sea and is likely to increase gradually becoming 75-85 kmph gusting to 95 kmph from tomorrow morning for subsequent 6 hours. It will gradually decrease thereafter becoming 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph by 25th morning along & off Oman coast.
The sea condition is very likely to be rough along & off Gujarat coast during next 12 hours. Sea conditions will be high over northeast and adjoining east central Arabian Sea during next 12 hours and very rough during subsequent 12 hours. Sea conditions will be rough to very rough over northwest and adjoining west-central Arabian Sea during next 12 hours and high during subsequent 24 hours. It will become rough to very rough thereafter.
The fishermen are advised not to venture into northeast and adjoining east-central Arabian Sea till tomorrow morning and into northwest & adjoining west-central Arabian Sea till 25th morning.