The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday issued a warning about Cyclone Shakti, which has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and is moving toward the Maharashtra coast.
The IMD alert covers Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, warning of strong winds, heavy rainfall, and potential flooding over the next few days.
The #severe #cyclonic #storm #Shakhti over northwest & adjoining northeast #Arabian Sea moved west-southwestwards with a speed of 13 kmph during last 6 hours and lay centered at 1730 hrs IST of today, over northwest Arabian Sea, about 580 km west of Dwarka. pic.twitter.com/WxDrBJydFV
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) October 4, 2025
According to the IMD, wind speeds have reached 45–55 kmph along the north Maharashtra coast and may increase as the cyclone intensifies. Sea conditions are expected to remain very rough along the northern Maharashtra coastline until Sunday.
Following the IMD’s warning, the Maharashtra government issued a directive to district administrations for immediate preparedness in response to Cyclone Shakti — the first post-monsoon cyclonic storm to form in the Arabian Sea. Authorities have been instructed to activate disaster management systems, prepare evacuation plans for low-lying and coastal regions, issue public advisories, discourage sea travel, and ensure safety during the anticipated heavy rains.
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The IMD has also forecast heavy to very heavy rains across interior Maharashtra, particularly in East Vidarbha and parts of Marathwada. Flooding is likely in North Konkan’s low-lying regions due to intense cloud formation. Fishermen have been warned not to venture into the Arabian Sea until Tuesday.
Cyclone Shakti Path and Forecast
As of Saturday morning, the storm was centred around 420 km off Dwarka in Gujarat, moving west-southwestwards towards the northwest and adjoining west-central Arabian Sea. The IMD noted that Cyclone Shakti is expected to recurve and move east-northeastwards from Monday morning, gradually weakening thereafter.
An IMD official in Ahmedabad stated, “Cyclone Shakthi will recurve on October 6 morning moving towards East-Northeast direction. However, there is no need to panic as the impact over Gujarat will be minimal.”
The official also forecast heavy rainfall on October 8 across Dwarka, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Surat, Navsari, Valsad, Daman, and Dadra Nagar Haveli.
Why the Cyclone is Named ‘Shakti’
The name Shakti was suggested by Sri Lanka, following the convention of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones. The word “Shakti” symbolizes power and resilience. Cyclone names are selected from lists contributed by 13 member countries including India, Bangladesh, Oman, and Myanmar, to simplify communication and improve disaster awareness.
