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Tropical Cyclone “Maha” triggers heavy rains in coastal Maharashtra and Karnataka, India

ByJulie Celestial
tropical-cyclone-maha-october-2019

Image credit: NASA/NOAA Suomi NPP/VIIRS. Acquired: October 31, 2019

Tropical Cyclone "Maha" formed over the Laccadive Sea, west of Sri Lanka on October 30, 2019, as the 6th named storm of the 2019 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. Maha is already dumping heavy rains over coastal Maharashtra and Karnataka, India, and raising alerts for strong winds and rough seas.

The system is currently moving across Lakshadweep Islands and will continue to head towards the northwest, reemerging in the East Central Arabian Sea and intensifying into a Severe Cyclone by the evening. 

Heavy rain, strong winds and thunderstorms are forecast for western Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra. An orange alert has been issued for heavy rain and thunderstorms for coastal areas.

Rains are expected to be heavier over South Konkan and Goah during this movement. Areas in Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Vengurla, and Harnai may expect moderate rain with isolated heavy spells in the next 48 hours. Strong winds may go with the rains, with gusts up to 70 km/h (43 mph).

Rough seas are also predicted for the next two to three days, prompting fishermen to take safety precautions.

Mumbai rains are set to return around November 1, but showers would be light. Winds from the Bay of Bengal will keep the humidity levels increasing in the interior parts of Maharashtra.

Tropical Cyclone "Maha" on October 31, 2019. Credit: NASA/NOAA Suomi NPP/VIIRS

Due to a combination of winds from the opposite directions over the region, a confluence zone will most probably develop. This could result to scattered light to moderate rain in parts of Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada, and Vidarbha until November 1.

Pune city may experience scattered rain and thundershower activities for the next two days. Moderate showers have already hit Madhya Maharashtra and parts of Marathwada during the past 24 hours.

Rare October rains have been lashing into Maharashtra. This unusual weather can be linked to back to back Cyclones. The systems have impacted the state's weather that Konkan and Goa have seen excess rain by 133% and Madhya Maharashtra by 172% at present.

According to rainfall data from October 1 to 30, Marathwada has also experienced rains and is standing rain surplus at 213%.

Skymet Weather added, "Later, by November 2, wind speed would taper down further. However, sea conditions are expected to remain rough for another 24 hours. Hence, due precautions must be taken."

Maha comes just days after Tropical Cyclone "Kyarr" formed in the east-central Arabian Sea on October 25 as the 5th named storm of the 2019 North Indian Ocean cyclone season.

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