A significant depression over the Arabian Sea has intensified into a powerful cyclonic storm, named ‘Hikaa’. The Cyclone is pivoting over a region approximately 490 km west-southwest of Veraval located in Gujarat, 520 km south-southwest of Karachi, Pakistan and 710 km east-southeast of Masirah, Oman. Specifically, Hikaa is projected to batter the Oman coast, south of Masirah, near Duqm, a hub boasting a port and a refinery. Maldives is the origin of the name ‘Hikaa’.
The Speed And Power Of Hikaa
The cyclone Hikaa is advancing at a rate of 10 km/h while bearing a wind speed of 90 km/h. Aiding in maintaining its strength, the warm sea-surface temperatures range from 29 to 30-degree celsius (with the threshold limit being 27.5-degree celsius), favorable for cloud-building (convection). However, dry air seeping in from the hot Arabian peninsula could counteract this cloud-building process, which may consequentially diminish the cyclone’s intensity.
Impact On Indian Coastlines
India Meteorological Department forecasts light to moderate rainfall in various sites, with heavy rainfall at isolated locations in the coastal districts of Saurashtra and Kutch. This is due to the potential deep depression forming over the east-central and North-East Arabian Sea off the Gujarat coast. The sea state around the Gujarat coastline is anticipated to remain unsettled from rough to very rough in the next few hours.
Arabian Sea Cyclones
Cyclonic activities are less severe in the Arabian Sea compared to the Bay of Bengal, which frequently gives rise to high-intensity cyclones. Over the past 120 years, merely 14% of all cyclonic storms and 23% of severe cyclones have occurred in the Arabian Sea around India.
| Arabian Sea Cyclones | Percentage(%) |
|---|---|
| All Cyclonic Storms | 14% |
| Severe Cyclones | 23% |
The Nature Of Tropical Cyclones
A cyclone is a low-pressure system surrounded by high-speed winds. Factors such as wind speed, wind direction, temperature, and humidity contribute to the development of cyclones. Before cloud formation, water absorbs heat from the atmosphere, converting it into vapor. When this water vapor transforms back into liquid form as raindrops, the heat is discharged into the atmosphere. The warming air rises, leading to a drop in pressure, causing more air to rush to the storm’s center. This cycle repeats until upper-level winds disrupt the storm circulation, causing it to lose its strength.