Cyclone Nilofar is set to make landfall at Naliya village in Kutch district, along the Gujarat coast, on Saturday, a day later than expected, says a revised weather forecast on Tuesday. The landfall was earlier forecast on Friday morning.
“At the moment, it is a very severe cyclonic storm, but by the time it makes landfall at Naliya, it is set to weaken into a cyclonic storm with wind speed of 80-90 kmph. The maximum speed can go up to 100 kmph,” Manorama Mohanty, Director, Ahmedabad Meteorological Centre, told The Hindu.
The cyclone is now 1,110 kilometres from Naliya. Heavy rain will begin in Gujarat on Friday night and the sea is expected to be rough, the India Meteorological Department bulletin said. The State government is conducting daily review meetings on preparedness. On Tuesday, the authorities conducted a videoconference with the Collectors of the coastal districts and charted out emergency plans.