Mumbai: Despite the government was prepared for the worst, the storm has spared Phyan Mumbai. Now it moves into northern Gujarat, but has weakened considerably.

The system over the Arabian Sea is likely to move toward the northeast and north-south Gujarat Cross and the north coast, close to Valsad Maharashtra, near Mumbai, on Wednesday night.

Importantly, Mumbai, has only been spared a direct hit, but the threat remains and heavy rains are expected later in the afternoon.

The Phyan is now located about 180 km south-southwest of Mumbai and 430 km south-southwest of Surat.

Gale winds of 70-80 km / h gusting to speeds reaching 90 km / h is likely along and off south coastal Maharashtra and Gujarat during the next 24 hours. Sea state is high to very high throughout most of and outside Maharashtra and south Gujarat coasts.

The swell of about 1 meter above the tide level is likely to Alibagh, Raigarh, Greater Mumbai and Thane and Valsad in Gujarat at the time of landfall.

The cyclone is said to be of moderate level of 6. The highest level is 9. The Met Department has issued an orange alert, which is a lower level to red alert. The next update is due at 17:30 pm today.

Under its influence, rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and isolated extremely heavy falls (= 25 cm) is more likely to Konkan and Goa, Maharashtra and south Gujarat region in central the next 24 hours.

Previously, fearing the worst, all schools, colleges and offices in Mumbai and surrounding areas were ordered to close the evening in view of the cyclone is approaching.

- “All schools and offices have been instructed to close the day considering the weather that is likely to worsen,” BMC Maheshkar additional one commissioner told reporters.

While schools have been asked to close at 1 pm, the offices have reported about 2 pm, Maheshkar said after a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Johny Joseph in Mantralaya.

Joseph, after reviewing the situation and preparing to face the cyclone, at a meeting of the Disaster Management Cell, assured the public that the Administration is prepared for the situation. Also reported that six rescue teams and nine teams from the Navy are on hold. All rooms 24 Control of BMC have also been activated.

BMC has also asked people to avoid approaching the beaches, while asking to leave the low areas.