Cyclone Sitrang likely to form today; Check wind, rainfall warning issued by IMD

Bhubaneswar: Cyclone ‘Sitrang’ is likely to form over the Bay of Bengal today, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted.

“The Depression over eastcentral Bay of Bengal moved northwestwards with a speed of 17 kmph during past 6 hours, intensified into a Deep Depression and lay centered at 0530 hours IST of today, the 23rd October over the same region near latitude 15.40N and longitude 89.00E, about 580 km northwest of Port Blair, 700 km south of Sagar Island and 830 km south of Barisal (Bangladesh),” the IMD said in its bulletin this morning.

“It is very likely to move northwestwards during next 12 hrs and intensify into a cyclonic storm over central Bay of Bengal. Thereafter, it would recurve and move north-northeastwards and cross Bangladesh coast between Tinkona Island and Sandwip around 25th October early morning, the bulletin added.

The agency has issued wind and rainfall warning for several states in connection with the system.

Rainfall Warning

Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy rainfall at isolated places over Andaman & Nicobar Islands on 23rd October.

Odisha: Light to moderate rainfall at many places likely over coastal districts of Odisha on 23rd and light to moderate rainfall with isolated heavy rainfall likely over the same region on 24th and isolated heavy rainfall over north coastal Odisha districts on 25th October.

West Bengal: Light to moderate rainfall at a few places likely over coastal districts of West Bengal on 23rd. Light to moderate rainfall with isolated heavy rainfall on 24th and heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places on 25th October likely over coastal districts.

Northeastern States: Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over south Assam, East Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur & Tripura on 24th October. Light to moderate rainfall at most places with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over the same region and isolated extremely heavy rainfall over Tripura & Mizoram likely over the same region on 25th and isolated heavy rainfall likely on 26th October.

Wind Warning

23rd October: Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph is very likely over westcentral and adjoining eastcentral & southeast Bay of Bengal from morning. It would gradually increase becoming gale wind 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph over the same region from 23rd evening. Squally wind speed reaching 35-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph is very likely along & off Odisha and West Bengal coasts and Andaman Islands and adjoining north Andaman Sea.

24th October: Gale wind speed reaching 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph is likely over westcentral and adjoining areas of eastcentral & north Bay of Bengal. It would gradually increase becoming 85-95 kmph gusting to 105 kmph over the same region from 24th evening. Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is very likely along & off Odisha and West Bengal coasts.

25th October: Gale wind speed reaching 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph is likely over north Bay of Bengal and along & off Bangladesh coast; 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph likely along & off 24 Parganas District and 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph along & off east Medinipur district off West Bengal coast till morning. It would gradually decrease becoming 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph over coastal areas of Bangladesh after evening. Squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph likely along and off Balasore district & 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph along & off remaining north coastal districts of Odisha and over Mizoram & Tripura.