NEW DELHI (Commodity Online) : India’s west coast remained in high alert Wednesday as Cyclone Phyan strengthened and moved towards Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

According to India’s Meteorological Department, a depression in the Arabian Sea has intensified into a cyclonic storm, with heavy rains and gusting winds forecast for Mumbai and other parts of India's west coast.

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Cyclone Phyan lay about 600 km south-southwest off Mumbai, and was moving in a north-northeasterly direction. The cyclone is expected to reach the coastal area around 3.00 to 4.00 pm Wednesday.

The approaching cyclone is already forcing changes in the weather. Heavy rain is also expected to lash these parts of the nation as well. Mumbai, Goa and Konkan areas have been receiving heavy rains since Tuesday.

Mumbai last witnessed a cyclonic storm in the year 1982.

Meanwhile, torrential rains are expected in the northwestern India including Rajasthan, J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Tibet and others.