Super Cyclone 'Chapala' to hit Oman coast, no effect on India

New Delhi: Cyclone 'Chapala' in the Arabian Sea has turned into a 'Super Cyclonic Storm' and will hit Oman in next 24 hours.

However, no adverse weather is expected along and off the western coast of India as the system is moving away from the Indian coast, Met department said.

According to Cyclone Warning Division of Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), a depression formed southeast Arabian Sea in the morning of October 28 has moved north- northwestwards, intensified into a deep depression over the same area and further into a cyclonic storm, 'CHAPALA' in the early morning of October 29.

It thereafter moved northwestwards, intensified into a 'severe cyclonic storm' in the evening of October 29. It then moved west-northwestwards and intensified into a 'very severe cyclonic storm' in the same midnight and further into an 'extremely severe cyclonic storm' on the morning of October 30.

It moved westwards with a speed of about 11 kmph and lay centered over westcentral Arabian Sea, about 1350 km west-southwest of Mumbai and about 800 km east-southeast of Salalah (Oman). It would cross Yemen and adjoining Oman coast between in next 24 hours.

"Due to entrainment of dry air and lower Ocean thermal energy over Gulf of Aden and adjoining westcentral Arabian Sea off Yemen and Oman coast, there is possibility of slight weakening of the system before the landfall over Yemen and adjoining Oman coast.

"As the system is moving away from the Indian coast, no adverse weather is expected along and off west coast of India," the IMD said.