Cyclone Biparjoy set for landfall as India and Pakistan evacuate over 150,000

In its latest update, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) says cyclone Biparjoy is now just 120kms away from India’s Jakhua Port where it is supposed to make landfall later today.

The update issued at 1.30pm local time says the cyclone is expected to make landfall by tonight.

The number of evacuees from India and Pakistan has risen up to 150,000 as cyclone Biparjoy inched very close to the coastlines of South Asian nations.

Over 94,000 people have been moved out from coastal areas in India alone to shelters, while authorities in Pakistan’s Sindh said over 81,000 people were evacuated from the south-eastern coast to 75 relief camps at schools.

This number is expected to rise further as authorities assess the dangers posed by the cyclone as it inches closer.

Four deaths have already been reported in India (see post below) from extreme weather brought on by the cyclone while rainfall has been wreaking havoc in Pakistan for days killing dozens.

As cyclone Biparjoy bears down on the Arabian Sea, posing dangers to highly populated cities in India, scientists are pointing out how higher temperatures in the oceans are leading to more devastating storms.

A cyclone, also known as a hurricane or typhoon in different regions, is a powerful tropical storm with strong rotating winds that forms when low pressure is created in the oceans near the equator.

Cyclones are fuelled by warm ocean temperatures, which provide the energy necessary for their development and intensification.

These severe storms can cause heavy rainfall, high tides and gusts of winds in the nearby regions as they pass causing extensive damage to infrastructure, homes, and pose risks to human lives.

How cyclones are getting stronger due to climate crisis?

Typically an ocean temperature above 27C is required to sustain a tropical cyclone. As the world continues to warm due to greenhouse gas emissions mainly from fossil fuels, the oceans are getting warmer too.

Various scientific assessments, including from the United Nations’ top climate body the IPCC, find that warmer oceans not just make development of cyclones more likely, they also make these storms slow moving, making them more intense.

A slow moving cyclone results in longer duration of rainfall and winds, causing more damage.

As sea surface temperatures in the Arabian Sea have increased by 1.2C to 1.4C in recent decades, studies have shown that cyclones in this region are becoming stronger and wetter.

Cyclone Bipayjoy is now less than 170kms away from the coast of India and Pakistan as the countries brace for landfall today.

This map from Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) shows the last spotted location of the very severe cyclonic storm this morning.

It is expected to reach India’s Jakhau port by 5.30pm local time with a maximum sustained wind speed of 115-125kph gusting to 140 kph.

Videos posted by residents on social media show devastating winds hitting the Gujarat province where cyclone Biparjoy is set to make landfall this evening.

A footage from Okha town of Dev Bhoomi Dwarka district shared on Twitter shows a massive tree uprooted as gusts of winds cause reduced visibility.

Another video shows a tin roof flying over amid gusts with wind gales heard in the background.

Earlier video showed high tides almost entirely submerging a bridge in Gujarat.

Video shared by Indian news agency ANI shows heavy rains lashing Gujarat’s Morbi town as cyclone Biparjoy comes closer.

The very severe cyclone was just 170kms from the Jakhua Port in the province this morning. The cyclone is expected to make landfall by 5.30pm with weather department warnings for more severe rains ahead.

Stunning footage captured and shared by astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi from space shows the formation of cyclone Biparjoy in the Arabian Sea last week.

Over 47,000 people evacuated from the coastal and low-lying areas in India’s Gujarat ahead of Cyclone Biparjoy.