Cyclone update: AMPHAN intensifies into Very Severe Cyclonic Storm

Sambad English Bureau Published On : May 17, 2020 at 5:55 PM Updated On : May 17, 2020 at 6:03 PM

Bhubaneswar: The severe cyclonic storm AMPHAN over central parts of south Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood has further intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm today afternoon.

As per India Meteorological Department (IMD), the very severe cyclonic storm lay centered at 2.30 pm on Sunday over central parts of South Bay of Bengal near latitude 11.7°N and longitude 86.0°E, about 960 km south of Paradip (Odisha), 1110 km south-southwest of Digha (West Bengal) and 1230 km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh).

54 trains under ECoR cancelled in view of impending cyclone; check details

Odisha: Cyclone ‘Hamoon’ forms over Bay of Bengal; eye visible in Doppler radar

It is very likely to intensify further into an extremely severe cyclonic storm during next 24 hours. It is very likely to move nearly northwards slowly during next 12 hours and then re-curve north-northeastwards and move fast across northwest Bay of Bengal and cross West Bengal – Bangladesh coasts between Digha (West Bengal) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) during the afternoon or evening of May 20 as a very severe cyclonic storm.

Here’s intensity of cyclone Amphan in following table:

Warnings:

Rainfall: Coastal Odisha is likely to experience light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy falls at isolated places from May 18 evening. Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places on May 19 and isolated heavy rainfall over north coastal Odisha on May 20.

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 May 18 evening, extend to along & off north Odisha coast from May 19 morning and along and off West Bengal coast from May 19 afternoon. The wind speed will gradually increase becoming gale wind speed reaching 75 to 85 kmph gusting to 95 kmph from May 20 morning along and off north Odisha and West Bengal coasts. It will gradually increase thereafter becoming 110 to 120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph along & off North Odisha coast and 120 to 140 kmph gusting to 155 kmph along & off West Bengal coast from the afternoon of May 20.

Sea condition: Sea condition will be Phenomenal over central parts of south Bay of Bengal and adjoining central Bay of Bengal during next 24 hours. It will become Phenomenal over southern parts of central Bay of Bengal from tonight, over northern parts of central Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Bay of Bengal on May 19 and over north Bay of Bengal on May 20.

Fishermen Warning: The fishermen are advised not to venture into south Bay of Bengal during next 24 hours, to central Bay of Bengal during 17th to 18th May and into North Bay of Bengal during 18th to 20th May 2020. Also, fishermen are advised not to venture into north Bay of Bengal along and off North Odisha, West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh coasts during 18th to 20th May 2020.

Here’s path of cyclone Amphan as predicted by IMD: