Bhubaneswar, (Orissa Today), May 21: Amidst soaring temperatures and thunderstorm activity in Odisha, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on Tuesday that the forecasted depression over the central parts of the Bay of Bengal may intensify further.
According to the IMD, a cyclonic circulation is currently present over the Southwest Bay of Bengal coast. It is expected to lead to the formation of a low-pressure area over the southwest Bay of Bengal by May 22, likely moving northeastwards and concentrating into a Depression over the central parts of the Bay of Bengal by the morning of May 24. The system is forecasted to continue moving northeastwards and further intensify thereafter.
However, the IMD has not yet predicted whether the system will intensify into a cyclone.
The weather agency has issued warnings of heavy rain in Balasore district on May 25. Additionally, thunderstorm and lightning accompanied by gusty surface wind speeds reaching 30-40 kmph may occur at one or two places in North Coastal Odisha, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Angul, and Dhenkanal.
Fishermen off the coasts of northern Odisha and West Bengal have been specifically cautioned to stay ashore on May 23 and 24 due to expected rough to very rough sea conditions. Squally weather with wind speeds reaching 35-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph is likely over the south Bay of Bengal on May 21-22, gradually increasing to 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph over central and adjoining south Bay of Bengal from May 23 morning.
These conditions would extend to adjoining areas of the North Bay of Bengal with increased wind speeds of 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph from May 24 morning, and over the northeast Bay of Bengal & adjoining northwest & east-central Bay of Bengal from May 25 morning for the subsequent 24 hours. Sea conditions are expected to be moderate to rough over the southwest Bay of Bengal on May 21-22, rough to very rough over central and adjoining south Bay of Bengal from May 23, and over the North Bay of Bengal from May 24 onwards.
If the cyclone, named Remal, does form, it would mark the first of the pre-monsoon season of 2024.
