Press Information Bureau

According to the latest updated release (at 1500 Hrs. IST) by the Cyclone Warning Division of the India Meteorological Department:

The depression over Southeast Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood moved northwestwards with a speed of 16 kmph during past 06 hours and lay centred at 1130 hrs IST of today, the 16^th May, 2020 near latitude 10.9°N and longitude 86.3°E, about 1040 km south of Paradip (Odisha), 1200 km south-southwest of Digha (West Bengal) and 1300 km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh). It is very likely to intensify into a Cyclonic Storm during next 12 hours and further into a severe cyclonic storm during subsequent 24 hours. It is very likely to move north-northwestwards initially till 17^th May and then re-curve north-northeastwardsacross northwest Bay of Bengal towards West Bengal and adjoining Odisha coasts during 18^th to 20^th May 2020.

           Forecast track and intensity are given in the following table:

Warnings:

(i) Rainfall (over Andaman & Nicobar Islands):

• Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy falls at isolated places is very likely over Andaman & Nicobar Islands on 16^th May.
• Rainfall (over Odisha & Gangetic West Bengal)

Coastal Odisha is likely to experience light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy falls at isolated places from 18^th May evening, heavy to very heavy rainfalls at a few places on 19^thMay and isolated heavy rainfall over northeast Odisha on 20^th May 2020. Coastal districts of Gangetic West Bengal are likely to experience light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy falls at a few places on 19^th May,heavy to very heavy falls at a few places with extremely heavy falls at isolated places over Gangetic West Bengal on 20^th May.

(ii) Wind warning

• Squally wind speed reaching 45 to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is likely to commence along and off south Odisha coast from 18^th evening, extent over north Odisha coast from 19^th morning and along and off West Bengal coast from 19^th afternoon. The wind speed will gradually increase becoming gale wind speed reaching 75 to 85 kmph gusting to 95 kmph from 20^th morning along and off north Odisha and West Bengal coast. It will gradually increase thereafter.
• Squally wind speed reaching 45 to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is likely over Andaman Sea during next 48 hours.
• Squally wind speed reaching 45 to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is prevailing over southeast and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal.  It is likely to increase becoming 90-100 gusting to 110 kmph over eastcentraland adjoining west central Bay of Bengal by 17^th morning, 120-130 gusting to 145 kmph over southern parts of central Bay of Bengal by 18^th morning, 155-165 gusting to 180 kmph over northern parts of central Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Bay of Bengal on 19^th, and 160-170 gusting to 190 kmph over north Bay of Bengal by 20^th morning.

(iii) Sea condition

Sea condition will be rough to very rough over south & adjoining central Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea till 16^th May evening. It will be High over southwest and adjoining central Bay of Bengal from the 16^th May night, very high over the same region from 17^th morning. It will become phenomenal over southern parts of central Bay of Bengal on 18^th, overnorthern parts of central Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Bay of Bengal on 19^th May and over north Bay of Bengal on 20^th May 2020.

(iv)  Fishermen Warning

• The fishermen are advised not to venture into south Bay of Bengal from 16^th to 17^th May, to central Bay of Bengal 17^th to 18^thMay and north Bay of Bengal during 19 to 20^th May 2020.
• Also, fishermen are advised not to venture into north Bay of Bengalalong and off North Odisha, West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh coast during 18^th to 20^th May 2020.

            Kindly visitwww.rsmcnewdelhi.imd.gov.in and www.mausam.imd.gov.in for updates on the system.

(Pl see pix below)……..

****

KGS/(IMD release)