Cyclonic Storm Over Bay Of Bengal Likely To Cross Odisha Coast On May 24: IMD

Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday said that a low-pressure to be formed over the Bay of Bengal on May 22 will intensify into a cyclonic storm and is most likely to cross Odisha and West Bengal coast.

Talking to media, IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said the IMD in the last 24 hours had said that there is a possibility of formation of a low-pressure area over the east-central Bay of Bengal on May 23.

“As per the updated information today, it is now confirmed that the low-pressure area will be formed over the North Andaman Sea and its nearby area of the east-central Bay of Bengal on May 22. The system will intensify into a cyclonic storm in the 72 hours and is most likely to move in the north-west direction towards the North Bay of Bengal and cross the Odisha and West Bengal coast in the morning on May 24,” Mohapatra added.

However, he said the IMD has not made the exact prediction about the timing and location from when and where the cyclonic storm will pass. “We will be able to make the accurate prediction only after the formation of the low-pressure area. We are constantly monitoring the situation and we will provide regular updates about the intensity of the cyclone after the formation of the low pressure,” he pointed out.

Mohapatra further said under the influence of low pressure, rainfall will start along the Odisha coast from May 25 evening.

“Besides, as the sea condition will be rough to very rough, fishermen are advised not to venture into the deep sea in the east-central Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea from May 21 to 24 and the North Bay of Bengal from May 24 to 27,” he said.

The cyclonic storm will be named only after its formation. ‘Yaas’- a name given by Oman, is next in the series.