Cyclone Tauktae reaches near Kannur; Kerala to receive heavy rainfall on Saturday

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Cyclone Tauktae, which is causing fear and rain on the coast of the Arabian Sea, reached 320 km southwest of Kannur on Friday afternoon. It is moving in a north-westerly direction without approaching the Kerala coast.

The epicenter was reported below the Amini Islands in Lakshadweep. The speed to the center is 19 kilometers per hour. Due to this, there is a possibility of strong winds up to 70 km per hour off the coast of Kerala from today till tomorrow morning and the sea will become turbulent and hit the coast. The state will also receive heavy rainfall. The IMD said that the strength of the rains due to Cyclone Tauktae will decrease by Saturday. However, there will be widespread rains in the state till Monday.

Cyclone Tauktae, currently developing over Lakshadweep Isles and the Arabian Sea, will intensify into a full-fledged cyclonic storm on Sunday, causing heavy rains, accompanied by gusty winds, in southern and western coastal parts of the country.

"It is very likely to intensify into a deep depression during the next 12 hours and into a cyclonic storm during the subsequent 12 hours. It is very likely to intensify further. It is very likely to move initially north-northeastwards till today evening. It would then move north-northwestwards and reach near Gujarat coast by May 18 morning," the IMD said in its latest bulletin this afternoon.