Forecast map: Nilofar about to hit Gujarat. Late night October 30, 2014.
Cyclone Nilofar seems to have changed its mind. Earlier forecasts said it would embrace Karachi.
But latest forecasts show that it is going to curve more than expected. That means it will make landfall at holy Dwarka on Friday, October 31, 2014.
It will than move through the Gulf of Kachchh and affect Mandvi, Mundra, Kandla before weakening and moving into parts of northwest Gujarat.
Nilofar (At least present trends say) is not going to be as strong as the recent powerful Hudhud. So it it will dissipate even as a rain-bearing system after moving through Gujarat.
Presently Cyclone Nilofar is intensifying and moving towards Oman. But it will change direction and start in a northerly trajectory, thus avoiding landfall into Oman.
It will weaken slightly as it moves north till October 29.
But on Wednesday it will start curving towards Gujarat and strengthen again.
Mercifully by the time it hits the Gujarat coast it will weaken to winds of 100-120 Kph.
In the next 24 hours it will be at its peak with winds howling at a frightening 200+ Kph. The eye will be clearly visible then.
Most of the rains will fall in Kachchh-Saurashtra. Pakistan will get some showers (Karachi) on October 31.
Oman will see strong winds, dark clouds in the coastal areas. And some showers in the next two days.
But it will be Saurashtra-Kachchh which will bear the brunt of Nilofar's fury.
There are 3-4 days before Cyclone Nilofar touches land. Till then Oman, Sindh and Gujarat will be on tenterhooks.
Nilofar is an unpredictable wild lass capable of anything.
In the next 4 days we will keep a keen watch on this beautiful but dangerous creation of Mother Earth.
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