IMD advises to stay away from Cyclone Sitrang rumor; Here’s how the ‘rumor’ emerged

Bhubaneswar: Amid speculation regarding the formation of Cyclone ‘Sitrang’ over the Bay of Bengal, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) today termed it as a rumour and advised people to stay away from it.

“The IMD hasn’t made any forecast regarding cyclone. It is scientifically not possible to make any weather-related prediction before seven days of the occurrence,” the Regional Meteorological Centre here of the IMD tweeted.

✔️ବାତ୍ୟା ସମ୍ଭନ୍ଧରେ ପାଣିପାଗ ବିଭାଗ ତରଫରୁ କୌଣସି ସୂଚନା କିମ୍ବା ପୂର୍ବାନୁମାନ ଜାରିହୋଇନାହିଁ,

✔️ଆହୁରି ମଧ୍ୟ କୌଣସି ପାଣିପାଗ ଘଟଣା ସମ୍ଭନ୍ଧରେ ୭ଦିନ ଆଗରୁ ଆକଳନ କରିବା ବିଜ୍ଞାନ ସମ୍ମତ ନୁହେଁ

✔️ପାଣିପାଗ ସହ ଜଡିତ ସଠିକ ସୂଚନା ଦେବା ପାଇଁ ଆମେ ୨୪ଘଣ୍ଟା କାର୍ଯ୍ୟରତ
ତେଣୁ ଆପଣମାନେ “#ଗୁଜବ” ଠାରୁ ଦୁରେଇରୁହନ୍ତୁ pic.twitter.com/WTxjUkNiYW

— Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar (@mcbbsr) October 12, 2022

The “rumour” emerged after Mostafa Kamal Palash, a PhD researcher on weather and climate at Saskatchewan University in Canada, made a prediction in this regard.

“A depression is likely to form on 17 October, which is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm by 18 October,” Mostafa Kamal Palash was quoted as saying by Business Standard.

The cyclone may make its landfall anywhere between Andhra Pradesh and Bangladesh, said Palash.

Citing the prediction by the GFS model, Palash further said that the system may become a super cyclone.

Its wind speed can be similar to that of Cyclone Amphan, he added.

The IMD has already forecasted that a cyclonic circulation may form over the Bay of Bengal in the second half of this month.

As per the prediction, the cyclonic circulation may form over the east-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Andaman Sea during “week 2” (October 14 to October 20).

The forecasted system may move west-northwestwards with “low” probability (up to 33%) of further intensification.

“There is likelihood of formation of a cyclonic circulation over east-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Andaman Sea during week 2 with low probability of its further intensification and west-northwestwards movement,” the IMD said in its North Indian Ocean Extended Range Outlook for Cyclogenesis.