India's financial capital Mumbai and many areas along the west coast were preparing on Wednesday to Phyan storm was likely to intensify and cross the coast between northern and southern Maharashtra, Gujarat, the night before.India Meteorological Department has issued an "orange" alert, one step below red alert out of a really bad storm.

The storm had moved north across the Arabian Sea during the night and was about 250 km west-northwest of Goa, 350 km south-southwest of Mumbai and 620 km south-southwest of Surat at 5 : 30, IMD said in its website.

"The system is likely to intensify even further to the northeast and moving north and south Gujarat and Maharashtra, north coast between Alibagh Valsad and in the late afternoon evening," IMD said in its cyclone warning to the 9:50 Phyan has accelerated since the last report was issued.

The cyclone had moved northward over the Arabian Sea during the night and was about 250 km west-northwest of Goa, 350 km south-southwest of Mumbai and 620 km south-southwest of Surat at 5 : 30 am, the IMD on its website.

"The system is likely to intensify even further to the northeast and moving north and south Gujarat Cross and the north coast of Maharashtra between Alibagh Valsad and late afternoon / evening," IMD said in its warning Cyclone issued at 9:50 am. Phyan had improved since the last alert was issued.