Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) today said the deep depression over Southeast Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood has intensified into a Cyclonic Storm ‘AMPHAN’ (pronounced as UM-PUN). It remained practically stationary during past six hours, the IMD said.

The cyclonic storm ‘Amphan’ lay centred over the same region at 5:30 PM today near latitude 10.9°N and longitude 86.3°E.

The IMD release added the cyclonic storm lay centred 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 further into a Severe Cyclonic Storm during next 12 hours and into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm by May 18 morning. It is very likely to move north-northwestwards initially till May 17 and then re-curve north-northeastwards across northwest Bay of Bengal towards West Bengal and adjoining North Odisha coasts during May 18 to 20, 2020.

Meanwhile, INCOIS-IMD jointly released its forecast on wave height and swell height for coastal region into the ocean up to 10 km off Odisha coast.

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