Cyclone Biparjoy Strikes Gujarat and Pakistan Coasts, Brings Heavy Rainfall and Storm Surge

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has reported that Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall on Thursday, impacting the Saurashtra and Kutch regions in Gujarat, as well as the adjacent Pakistan coasts. During the landfall process, wind speeds are expected to range from 115 to 125 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 145 kmph. IMD has also forecasted heavy rainfall to persist during the landfall. The landfall process is anticipated to take several hours to complete, according to IMD.

IMD further stated that the cyclone’s storm surge could result in a rise of 2-3 meters above the normal tide level, potentially causing flooding in low-lying areas such as Dwarka, Okha, Diu, Naliya, Veraval, Bhuj, Porbandar, and Kandla. In certain districts, astronomical tides may reach heights of 3-6 meters at different locations.

The expected landfall location is between Mandvi and Karachi near Jakhau port, with the landfall process projected to continue until midnight on Thursday. Ananda Das, the IMD’s cyclone expert, emphasized that the landfall process would be prolonged due to the region’s irregular coastline, resembling a gulf. The cyclone’s overall size spans approximately 300 kilometers in radius, with the core wind area encompassing a radius of 100 kilometers. Das characterized it as a highly severe cyclone that is expected to maintain its intensity.

Vineet Kumar Singh, a researcher at the Typhoon Research Center, Jeju National University in South Korea, noted that radar observations indicate limited rainfall in the northern portion of the cyclone. The majority of the rainfall is concentrated in the southern eyewall, suggesting that areas located south of the cyclone’s center will experience more precipitation in the next six hours than areas to the north.