A depression in the Bay of Bengal is poised to develop into a severe cyclonic storm, with landfall expected between West Bengal’s Sagar Island and Bangladesh’s Khepupara around Sunday midnight, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The IMD forecasts wind speeds reaching 100 to 120 km per hour during the storm’s landfall.
Coastal districts of West Bengal are anticipated to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall on May 26 and 27, as per IMD predictions.
Cyclone Remal, currently situated over the central Bay of Bengal, is about 800 km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh) and 810 km south of Canning (West Bengal). It is likely to evolve into a cyclonic storm by the morning of May 25 and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Saturday night.
An IMD official highlighted that the North Indian Ocean’s extremely warm sea surface temperatures, ranging from 30 to 31°C, have the potential to intensify this cyclone. However, the monsoon winds, which have already set in over the Peninsular region, are still influencing this system.
In light of the cyclone, the Met Office has issued warnings of heavy to very heavy rainfall on May 26 and 27 in Kolkata, South and North 24 Parganas, Purba Medinipur, and Howrah districts. Gusty winds are expected to reach 90 to 100 kmph in South 24 Parganas and 80 to 90 kmph in Purba Medinipur on these days. Kolkata, North 24 Parganas, and Howrah are likely to experience winds of 60 to 70 kmph.
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The cyclone is also predicted to bring light to moderate rain and thundershowers to north and south Odisha starting May 25. Additionally, light to moderate rainfall is expected across most of Mizoram, Tripura, and South Manipur on May 26, and over Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, and Tripura on May 27 and 28.
Fishermen have been advised by the weather office not to venture into the sea in the north Bay of Bengal until the morning of May 27.
The IMD has also assured that the cyclone will not adversely affect the sixth phase of polling in the Lok Sabha elections on May 25.
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