Cyclone Vayu powers rain, but no need to panic

PANAJI: The state witnessed widespread rainfall in brisk spells on Wednesday as the cyclonic storm Vayu increased the intensity of the rainfall activity since the last couple of days.
Meteorological department, Panaji, has forecast heavy rainfall in parts of the state and very heavy rainfall in isolated places on Thursday, as the cyclone over eastcentral Arabian Sea moved northwestwards with a speed of about 14 kmph.
Though it issued a warning in the orange category, there is no need to panic, meteorological department officials said.
“The Konkan region, particularly Goa, experienced widespread rainfall. Its intensity is likely to decrease during the next couple of days as the very severe cyclonic storm will gradually dissipate,” said IMD director for Goa, KV Padgalwar.
The northern limit of south west monsoon has so far reached Kannur in north Kerala. Further advancement of the monsoon from the southern state to Goa takes about four to seven days, depending on its intensity.
On Wednesday, several incidents of trees uprooting took place in Panaji, Ponda and Sanguem. The weather conditions also led to a few flight delays besides cancellation of one.
A Mumbai-bound Indigo flight scheduled to depart from Goa at 2.30pm took off at 5.09pm while another for Pune was delayed by 2 hours and took off at 4.07pm. A Spicejet flight which was to depart at 7.55am was delayed while Air Vistara flight too was delayed by 2 hours. The Air India’s Mumbai-Goa-Mumbai flight scheduled to depart at 6.20am had to be cancelled.
Sources informed that due to heavy cross winds some pilots aborted landings and sought a go-around from the Air Traffic Control tower at the Goa international airport.
Fishermen have been warned against venturing into the sea.
“Very heavy rainfall may occur in some places in Goa. There will be widespread rainfall activity on Thursday and Friday,” said IMD expert SD Sanap.
With the cyclonic storm momentarily stalling the further advancement of the monsoon, as it sucks all the moisture in the region, meteorologists will closely watch the scenario.
During the last 24 hours till Wednesday morning, Ponda received the highest amount of rainfall of 56mm, Margao 51.3mm and Pernem 43.2mm. Among the other centres, Panaji received 33.3mm, Canacona 32.8mm, Valpoi 28.9mm and other centres less.