Cyclone Biparjoy Landfall: Timing, Location, Expected Impact, Precautions, and More

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After spending more than a week in the Arabian Sea, Cyclone Biparjoy is finally expected to make landfall over Gujarat later this week. Starting as a Low Pressure Area and rapidly intensifying into an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm, Biparjoy has become one of the longest-lasting cyclones to affect India in recent decades.

The prolonged duration of the cyclone over the sea has allowed it to accumulate more energy and moisture, making it potentially more severe and destructive upon landfall.

According to weather models, the slow movement of Biparjoy can be attributed to steering winds and anticyclonic circulations surrounding the system. This sluggishness has made it challenging to predict the exact location of landfall, as stated by Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, the Chief of the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Now, let’s delve into the details of landfall, its potential effects, and the precautions to take in order to protect yourself from its impacts.

What is landfall?

Landfall refers to the moment when the “eye” of a cyclone moves from the sea to the land along the coastline. The US National Hurricane Center defines it as the “intersection of the surface center of a tropical cyclone with a coastline.”

Cyclones typically derive their strength from the ocean’s heat and moisture, but once they approach land, their source of sustenance diminishes rapidly, causing their strength to decline.

After landfall, cyclones tend to weaken quickly, and when the eye of the storm passes directly overhead, the winds subside, and the sky clears momentarily. However, it’s important to note that some of the most powerful winds are often found near the eye, which can pose a significant danger to areas within the path of the cyclone. High-speed winds, storm surges, and heavy rainfall are potential hazards associated with cyclones.

Where will Cyclone Biparjoy make landfall?

As of 5:30 AM on Tuesday morning, Cyclone Biparjoy weakened into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm over the northeast and east-central Arabian Sea. It is currently positioned approximately 300 km west-southwest of Gujarat’s Porbandar, 340 km south-southwest of Jakhau Port, and 480 km south of Karachi, Pakistan.

According to the IMD, Biparjoy is expected to continue its northward trajectory until Wednesday morning. Afterward, it will shift to a north-northeast direction and cross the Saurashtra-Kutch region and adjoining Pakistan coasts. The landfall location is expected to be between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan, near Gujarat’s Jakhau Port.

When will Cyclone Biparjoy make landfall?

Cyclone Biparjoy is projected to make landfall around Thursday noon (June 15). It is anticipated to cross the coast as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 125-135 kmph, gusting up to 150 kmph.

What is the expected impact of Cyclone Biparjoy’s landfall?

Heavy rainfall in Gujarat:


While most interior districts are likely to experience light to moderate rainfall, the coastal districts will witness more intense precipitation. On Wednesday (June 14), heavy to very heavy rains (115.5 mm – 224.5 mm) are forecasted for Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Junagarh, and Morbi districts in Saurashtra and Kutch. On the day of landfall, extremely heavy falls (224.5 mm) are possible in isolated areas of Kutch, Devbhumi Dwark

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