Cyclone Yaas Likely To Reach Odisha & Bengal Coast On May 26: IMD

Bhubaneswar: A low-pressure area is most likely to form over the North Andaman Sea and its nearby area of the east-central Bay of Bengal on May 22. Thereafter, the system will gradually move in the north-west direction and concentrate into a cyclonic storm in the subsequent 48 hours on May 24.

As per the latest update on formation of the cyclonic storm Yaas over the Bay of Bengal, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday said it will enter the North Bay of Bengal and reach Odisha and West Bengal coasts in the morning on May 26.

IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said timing and place of the landfall of the cyclonic storm can be predicted only after the formation of low pressure.

“The information we are providing now is an outlook and not a forecast. We will be able to provide the correct information regarding intensity, timing and place of landfall after the low-pressure is formed,” he said.

Mohapatra, however, said under the influence of the cyclonic storm, rainfall along the coastal belt of Odisha, mostly northern coast, will begin from May 25. But, the amount of rainfall too can be said only after the cyclonic storm reaches the coast.

In view of the inclement weather, the sea condition in the east-central Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea will be very rough, the IMD DG said.

“The sea condition will become turbulent from May 21 and the wind speed in the sea will be 40-50 kmph gusting up to 60-70 kmph on May 23 and 24,” said Mohapatra.

The fishermen are advised not to venture into the deep sea in the east-central Bay of Bengal, the south-east Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea between May 21 and 24, he added.

Besides, as the sea condition from May 24 will be very rough in the North Bay of Bengal and the nearby areas of the Central Bay of Bengal, the fishermen who are already in the deep sea are advised to return to the coast by May 23, Mohapatra said.