Cyclone Vayu to weaken into depression, cross north Gujarat coast by June 17

Cyclone Vayu is likely to weaken into a depression and reach the north Gujarat coast on June 17 evening, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday evening. The intensity of depression and deep depression is much less. They bring a good amount of rain with reduced wind intensity. 

"The system is very likely to weaken gradually into a Severe Cyclonic Storm during the next 12 hours and into a Cyclonic Storm during the subsequent 24 hours. The system is very likely to move nearly west-northwards during next 12 hours; gradually recurve thereafter northeastwards and cross north Gujarat coast by the evening of June 17 as a depression," said the IMD release.

Cyclone Vayu was to hit the Gujarat coast on June 13 morning, but it recurved on the night of June 12 and skirted the Gir, Somnath, Porbandar. It is currently moving away from the Gujarat coast, but it will recurve again from Sunday. 

Vayu is still a "very severe cyclonic storm", but it is expected to become a "severe cyclonic storm" and then a "cyclonic storm" on Sunday. By Monday, it is expected to become a deep depression and then a depression.

Depression is the first stage of formation of a cyclone. Depression intensifies into a deep depression, then a cyclonic storm, a severe cyclonic storm and a very severe cyclonic storm. As the intensity of a storm reduces, the sequences reverses.

The IMD said wind speed ranging from 100-110 kilometres per hour to 125 kilometres per hour is very likely over the northeast Arabian Sea and adjoining areas of northwest and the central Arabian Sea. "Strong wind speed of the order of 40-50 kilometres per hour gusting to 60 kilometres per hour very likely along and off Gujarat coast," it said.