New Delhi: Cyclone Shakhti, the first cyclonic storm in the Arabian Sea in the post-monsoon season, was moving towards Dwarka off the Gujarat coast on Friday and was expected to intensify further, the weather office said.
The cyclonic storm over the northeast Arabian Sea moved west-northwestwards with a speed of eight kmph during the last six hours, and lay centred at 2030 hrs IST on Friday, over the same region, nearly 300 km west of Dwarka, 330 km south-southwest of Karachi (Pakistan) and 360 km west of Porbandar.
Shakhti, a name given by Sri Lanka, is likely to move initially westwards and then west-southwestwards, intensifying further into a severe cyclonic storm by Saturday morning.
This is the first major Arabian Sea storm of the post-monsoon season, and its name, Shakhti, is stirring debate because of earlier confusion over a “Cyclone Shakti” that never actually formed.
As of IMD’s 0530 IST bulletin on October 3, the system was centred near 21.3°N, 67.1°E, about 240 km west-southwest of Dwarka and 270 km west of Porbandar.
IMD forecasts intensification into a cyclonic storm (wind speeds 62–88 kmph) by late morning, and into a severe cyclonic storm (89–117 kmph) in the next 24 hours.
The track projection shows the storm drifting west-northwest, then west-southwest into the open Arabian Sea.
In plain words: the core of the storm is expected to stay offshore, but the fringe impacts will hit India’s west coast.
Marine interests first. Fishermen have been asked not to venture into the northeast and adjoining northwest Arabian Sea and along/off the Gujarat and north Maharashtra coasts from October 3–6.
- Wind warnings: Squalls of 45–55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph along Gujarat–north Maharashtra coast, rising to 100–110 kmph gusting to 125 kmph over the northwest Arabian Sea.
- Sea condition: Very rough to high seas offshore; rough to very rough near the Gujarat–north Maharashtra coast.
- Ports and shipping: Offshore rigs, small craft and ports are advised to secure equipment and follow harbour signals.
- Inland weather: Rain bands and squally winds may cause localised flooding, treefalls and transit disruption in coastal Gujarat districts.
Here’s the thing: cyclones over the north Indian Ocean are named in sequence by IMD from a list contributed by 13 countries. The name Shakhti (with an h) was proposed by Sri Lanka. It will only be used once the system hits cyclonic storm strength (34 knots/62 kmph).
Back in May 2025, social media buzzed with warnings of a Bay of Bengal “Cyclone Shakti”. IMD categorically denied those claims, saying there was only an upper-air circulation, not a surface cyclone. That hype created unnecessary panic.
This time, though, the system is real, and IMD is the one confirming it.
The Arabian Sea was once considered less active than the Bay of Bengal, but that’s changing. Warmer sea-surface temperatures and favourable wind conditions have made rapid intensification events more frequent. In recent years, storms like Tauktae (2021) and Biparjoy (2023) showed how quickly systems can strengthen close to India’s west coast.
Shakhti may follow the offshore track, but it’s part of a broader trend: Arabian Sea storms are arriving stronger and faster than older climate models assumed.
Not every swirling cloud is a cyclone. A depression becomes a cyclonic storm only after it reaches wind speeds of 62 kmph. IMD is the only official agency naming storms in this region.
If you see viral posts with dramatic satellite images but no coordinates, no time stamp, and no IMD reference — be cautious. For actionable updates, follow:
- IMD’s 6-hourly bulletins
- State disaster management advisories
- Local port and harbour warnings
Cyclone Shakhti is set to churn up the Arabian Sea over the next 72 hours. While the system is unlikely to make landfall in India, its fringe impacts, high seas, coastal squalls, and localised flooding will be felt across Gujarat and north Maharashtra.
