Tag Archives: Gulf of Khambhat

Major Tropical Cyclone Tauktae Hits Gujarat

Major Tropical Cyclone Tauktae hit the Indian state of Gujarat on Monday. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Cyclone Tauktae was located at latitude 21.2°N and longitude 71.4°E which put it about 25 miles (405 km) west of Mahuva, India. Tauktae was moving toward the north at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 125 m.p.h. (200 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 155 m.p.h. (250 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 946 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Tauktae made landfall on coast of Gujarat near Jafrabad, India on Monday. The core of Tauktae moved inland between Diu and Mahuva. Tropical Cyclone Tauktae was the equivalent of a major hurricane, when it made landfall. A circular eye with a diameter of 23 miles (37 km) was evident on satellite imagery. The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Tauktae.

Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 40 miles (65 km) from the center of Tropical Cyclone Tauktae. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 150 miles (240 km) from the center of circulation. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Tropical Cyclone Tauktae was 23.6. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 16.3 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 39.9. Tropical Cyclone Tauktae was capable of causing regional major damage.

Tropical Cyclone Tauktae will move inland toward the north-northeast over Gujarat during the next 24 hours. Tauktae will produce winds capable of causing major damage in the southern part of Gujarat. Strong southerly winds will push water into the Gulf of Khambhat. A storm surge of up to 13 feet (4 meters) could occur at some places along the coast. Tropical Cyclone Tauktae will also drop heavy rain over parts of Gujarat and flash floods could occur. Tauktae will start to move more toward the east later on Tuesday when it reaches the upper level westerly winds in the middle latitudes.

Tropical Cyclone Ockhi Moves Closer to India

Tropical Cyclone Ockhi moved closer to India on Monday.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Monday the center to Tropical Cyclone Ockhi was located at latitude 17.9°N and longitude 70.7°E which put it about 170 miles (270 km) west-southwest of Mumbai, India and about 250 miles (400 km) southwest of Surat.  Ockhi was moving toward the northeast at 11 m.p.h. (17 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 70 m.p.h. (110 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 983 mb.

An upper level trough over the northern Arabian Sea was producing strong southwesterly winds which were blowing across the top of Tropical Cyclone Ockhi.  Those winds were causing significant vertical wind shear.  Microwave satellite imagery was indicating that the shear may be strong enough to push the upper part of Ockhi’s circulation to the northeast of the lower part of the tropical cyclone’s circulation.  The circulation in the middle and upper levels continued to show evidence of an eye surrounded by a ring of strong storms.  Several bands of strong storms were occurring north of the center of circulation.

The upper level trough is steering Tropical Cyclone Ockhi toward the northeast and that general motion is expected to continue for several more days.  On its anticipated track Ockhi will make landfall in Gujarat along the coast of the Gulf of Khambhat within 24 hours.  Strong vertical wind shear will continue to weaken Tropical Cyclone Ockhi.  Ockhi is likely to make landfall as the equivalent of a tropical storm.  Drier air is wrapping around the southern side of the circulation.  The heavy rain will fall over parts of Gujarat before the center of circulation reaches the coast.  Locally heavy rainfall could create the potential for flash floods in some places.

Tropical Cyclone Ockhi Turns Back Toward India

Tropical Cyclone Ockhi turned back toward India on Sunday night as it moved over the eastern Arabian Sea.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Sunday the center of Tropical Cyclone Ockhi was located at latitude 14.6°N and longitude 68.9°E which put it about 405 miles (650 km) southwest of Mumbai, India.  Ockhi was moving toward the north-northeast at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 976 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Ockhi started to weaken on Sunday.  An upper level trough over the northern Arabian Sea was producing southwesterly winds which were causing moderate vertical wind shear.  In spite of the weakening trend, the structure of Tropical Cyclone Ockhi remained well organized.  There was a circular eye at the center of Ockhi.  A ring of strong storms surrounded the eye, but the ring was broken east of the center of circulation.  Several bands of showers and thunderstorms were occurring north of the core of Tropical Cyclone Ockhi.  The bands in the other parts of the circulation consisted primarily of low clouds and showers.  It appeared that some drier air might be wrapping around the southern and western parts of the circulation.  Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out about 50 miles (80 km) from the center or circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 180 miles (290 km) from the center.

Tropical Cyclone Ockhi is likely to continue to weaken.  The upper level trough will continue to produce significant vertical wind shear over Ockhi.  The wind shear and drier air will weaken Ockhi to the equivalent of a tropical storm on Monday.  Some models dissipate the circulation of Ockhi before it makes a landfall in India, while other models move a weakened Tropical Cyclone inland before it dissipates.

The trough over the northern Arabian Sea will steer tropical cyclone Ockhi toward the northeast during the next several days.  On its anticipated track the center of Tropical Cyclone Ockhi could make a landfall on the coast of India between Mumbai and Veraval in 36 to 48 hours.  Ockhi could bring gusty winds and heavy rain to the Gulf of Khambhat and surrounding land areas in Gujarat.