According to the National Weather Forecasting Centre of the India Meteorological Department (IMD): (TIME OF ISSUE: 0910 HOURS IST, DATED: 25.05.2021)

 The Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Yaas’ (pronounced as ‘Yass’) over Eastcentral& adjoining west central Bay of Bengal– (Cyclone Warning for Odisha – West Bengal coasts-Orange Message). 

              The SevereCyclonic Storm‘Yaas’ (pronounced as ‘Yass’) over Eastcentral Bay of Bengal moved north-westwards with a speed of about 10 kmph during past 6 hours, and lay centred at 0530 hrs IST of today, the 25^th May, 2021 over Eastcentral & adjoining West central Bay of Bengal near latitude 18.0°N and longitude 88.6°E, about 320 km south-southeast of Paradip (Odisha), 430 km south-southeast of Balasore (Odisha), 420 km south-southeast of Digha (West Bengal) and 470 kms south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh).

            It is very likely to move north-north-westwards, intensify further into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm during next 12 hours. It would continue to move north-north-westwards, intensify further and reach Northwest Bay of Bengal near north Odisha and West Bengal coasts very close to Chandbali-Dhamra port by the early morning of Wednesday, the 26^th May. It is very likely to cross north Odisha-West Bengal coasts between Paradip and Sagar Island around Balasore, during noon of Wednesday, the 26^th May as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm. 

Forecast track and intensity are given in the following table:

 Warnings:(i)        

Rainfall:  North Coastal Andhra Pradesh: Light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places on 25^th May. 

Odisha:Light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy to very heavy rainfall in Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Khurda, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore  districts and heavy over Ganjam, Dhenkanal, Mayurbhanj districts on 25^th, heavy to very heavy rains at a few places with extremely heavy falls at isolated places  in Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj,  Dhenkanal, Keonjhargarh and heavy falls at isolated places in Puri, Khurda, Angul, Deogarh, Sundergarh on 26^th May and heavy to very heavy with extremely heavy falls  at isolated places in north interior Odisha on 27^th May. 

West Bengal & Sikkim:Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall over Medinipur, South 24 Parganas and heavy rainfall at isolated places in Howrah, Hooghly, & north 24 Parganas districts on 25^th, extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places over Medinipur and heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura, Bardhaman, Howrah, Hooghly, Kolkata , 24 Parganas, Bhirbhum and heavy falls at isolated places over Nadia, Murshidabad, Darjeeling Districts on 26^th May and heavy rain at isolated places in Malda & Darjeeling,  Dinajpur, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Sikkim and  heavy rain at a few places over Bankura, Purulia, Bardhaman, Bhirbhum & Murshidabad on 27^th May. 

Jharkhand: Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall and extremely heavy falls at isolated places on 26^th& 27^th May and isolated heavy to very heavy falls on 28^th May. 

Bihar: Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall and extremely heavy falls at isolated places on 27^th May and isolated heavy to very heavy falls on 28^th May. 

Assam & Meghalaya: Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places on 26^th& 27^th May. 

(ii) Wind warning:·   Gale winds speed reaching 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph is prevailing over major parts of central Bay of Bengal and would increase gradually becoming 125-135 gusting to 140 kmph from today evening. ·   Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting 70 kmph is prevailing over North Bay of Bengal andalong and off north Andhra Pradesh-Odisha–West Bengal–Bangladesh coasts. ·   It would further increase becoming gale wind speed 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph over northwest Bay of Bengal and along & off north Odisha and adjoining West Bengal coasts including Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, from early morning of 26^th May and will extend to Balasore districts of Odisha from the forenoon of 26^th May, 100-120 kmph gusting to 145 kmph over Mayurbhanj district of Odisha & East Medinipur & South 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal from early hours of 26^th May. Gale wind speed reaching 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph would prevail over Puri, Cuttack, Khurda, Jajpur districts of Odisha & Jhargram, West Medinipur, North 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal during same period. The wind speed reaching 60-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph would prevail along and off Ganjam and remaining interior districts of north Odisha·    Squally wind speed reaching 60-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph would prevail over Ganjam, Dhenkanal and Keonjhar districts of Odisha and Bankura, Purulia, Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia & Burdwan districts of Wet Bengal from 26^th early hours. Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph would prevail over Angul, Deogarh & Sundergarh districts of Odisha, Birbhum & Murshidabad districts of West Bengal and Srikakulam, Vijayanagaram& Vishakhapatnam districts of Andhra Pradesh during same period.·   Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting 60 kmph is very likely to prevail over south Jharkhand from 26^th forenoon and increase gradually becoming 90-120 kmph gusting to 130 kmph over southeast Jharkhand and 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph over southwest Jharkhand during 26^th evening / night.·   Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph over Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundergarh & Deogarh districts of Odisha and West Medinipur, Jhargram, Bankuda & Purulia districts of West Bengal on 27^th.  

(iii) Sea condition·         Sea condition is High to Very High over West central& adjoining eastcentral Bay of Bengal. It is very likely to become Very High to Phenomenal over northern parts of central Bay of Bengal, north Bay of Bengal and along & off north Andhra Pradesh-Odisha–West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts during 25th evening to 26th May evening.

(iv) Fishermen Warning·         The fishermen are advised not to venture into central Bay of Bengal till 26thMay forenoon and into north Bay of Bengal and along & off north Andhra Pradesh-Odisha-West Bengal–Bangladesh coasts during 25th– 26th May.·         Those who are out in the Deep Sea of north and adjoining central Bay of Bengal are advised to return to the coast.

(v) Storm surge warning. Tidal waves of height 2-4 meters above astronomical tide are likely to inundate low lying low laying areas of Medinipur, Balasore, Bhadrak and about 2 meters above astronomical tide are likely to inundate low lying low laying areas of South 24 Parganas, Kendrapara & Jagatsinghpur Districts around the time of landfall. 

Damage Expected for coastal districts of North Odisha, West Bengal and adjoining interior districts of these states:

• Total destruction of thatched houses/ extensive damage to kutcha houses. Some damage to pucca houses.
• Potential threat from flying objects.
• Bending/ uprooting of power and communication poles.
• Major damage to Kutcha and and Pucca roads.
• Flooding of escape routes.
• Disruption of railways, overhead power lines and signalling systems.
• Widespread damage to standing crops, plantations, orchards, falling of green coconuts and tearing of palm fronds.
• Blowing down of bushy trees like mango.
• Small boats, country crafts may get detached from moorings.
• Visibility severely affected

Action Suggested for coastal districts of North Odisha, West Bengal and adjoining interior districts of these states:

• Suspension of fishing operation and movement of ships in disturbed areas.
• Ports along the east coast of India may take necessary pre-cautions.
• Naval base operations may maintain necessary pre-cautions
• Tourism activities may be restricted over these areas. 
• Mobilise evacuation from coastal areas of West Bengal & North Odisha.
• Judicious regulation of rail and road traffic.
• People in affected areas to remain indoors.

Preparatory action before the cyclones

 (Please CLICK HERE for details in graphics)

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SS/RP/ (IMD input)