Cyclone brewing over Bay of Bengal? Will it play spoilsport in Odisha elections on May 25?

Bhubaneswar: While the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted that a depression is likely to form over the Bay of Bengal around May 24, several weather models have hinted towards further intensification of the predicted system into a cyclone.

The agency was yet to make any official forecast regarding any cyclone. “A low pressure area is likely to form over southwest Bay of Bengal around 22nd May. It is likely to move initially northeastwards and concentrate into a depression over central parts of Bay of Bengal around 24th May,” it said.

On the other hand, the IMD in its tropical weather outlook issued today said the probability of cyclogenesis (formation of depression) after 120-144 hours is ‘high’.

As the third phase of Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha is scheduled to be held on May 25, the predicted system may trigger rainfall and play spoilsport in the polling process.

Specific rainfall-related forecast due to the system was yet to be issued by the IMD.

The ‘North Indian Ocean Extended Range Outlook for Cyclogenesis’ issued by the agency on Thursday had mentioned about various predictions regarding the forecasted system on the basis of different weather models.

As per the NCEP GFS model, a low pressure area is likely to form over southeast Bay of Bengal around 23rd May. With initial northward movement, the system is likely to intensify gradually into a depression over eastcentral Bay of Bengal on 24th May and into a cyclonic storm by 25th May.

Subsequently moving west-nothrthwestward, it is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal off north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coast on 26th May. It is likely to cross north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coast on 27th May, as per the NCEP GFS model.