*ISLAMABAD – The severe cyclonic storm ‘Mekunu’ moved nearlynorth-northwestwards and intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm at14:30 hours IST of yesterday, May 23, 2018. It further moved nearlynorthwards and lay centred at 08:30 hrs IST of May 24, 2018, overwest-central and adjoining southwest the Arabian Sea near latitude 13.30Nand longitude 55.40E, about 180 km east-northeast of Socotra Islands and440 km south-southeast of Salalah (Oman). *
*It is very likely to intensify further during next 24 hours. It is verylikely to move nearly northwards during next 24 hours and thennorth-northwestwards and cross south Oman-southeast Yemen coasts as anextremely severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 160-170 **kmph** gustingto 190 **kmph** between 530E and 550E close to Salalah, around May 26, 2018morning.*
*Gale winds speed reaching 135-145 **kmph** gusting to 160 **kmph** isprevailing over the west-central Arabian Sea and adjoining southwestArabian Sea. The wind speed will gradually increase over west centralArabian Sea off south Oman-south east Yemen coasts with the increase in theintensity of the system during May 24-26. *
*The maximum wind speed of 160-170 **kmph** gusting to 190 **kmph** likelyto prevail along and off south Oman-south east Yemen coasts from **25th** evening.*
*Sea condition is phenomenal over west-central and adjoining southwestArabian Sea and will continue to be phenomenal over west central ArabianSea till 26th morning. It will improve gradually thereafter. The seacondition over adjacent areas of southwest Arabian Sea will remainphenomenal till 24th evening and improve gradually thereafter.*