Cyclone Remal to Become Severe, Cross Bangladesh-West Bengal Coast by May 26 Midnight: IMD

The season’s first cyclonic storm Remal has formed in the Bay of Bengal and continues to rapidly intensify as it moves northwards. It is expected to further intensify into a severe cyclonic storm and cross Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts by midnight of May 26, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The raging storm has been forecasted to cross the coast between Sagar Islands (West Bengal) and Khepupara (Bangladesh) with winds of 110-120 kmph, gusting up to 135 kmph. The weather department has sounded an ‘orange’ warning for the West Bengal coast, as the cyclone continues to move northwards, gaining strength. It is expected to become ‘severe’ by Sunday morning.

The cyclone is also likely to bring storm surges of about 1 metre above astronomical tide which could inundate the low-lying areas of coastal West Bengal and at least 3-4 m above astronomical tide across coastal Bangladesh around the time of landfall. The heavy rains and high winds could damage the vulnerable structures across the South & North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, Kolkata, and adjoining East Medinipur districts of West Bengal as the storm crosses the coast.

There would be heavy rains in a few places over the coastal districts of West Bengal and eastern districts of Gangetic West Bengal adjacent to Bangladesh on May 26 and 27, as well as heavy rainfall over north coastal Odisha. Heavy rains are also likely to lash Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, and Tripura on May 27 and 28. The weather department has already advised the complete suspension of fishing operations and evacuation of coastal dwellers in the vulnerable areas.

The name ‘Remal’ meaning ‘sand’ was proposed by Oman. The practice of naming these tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea began in September 2004, and the list is maintained by the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC).

The IMD had first issued a pre-cyclone watch when the low-pressure area had formed over southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal on May 22 and continued to gain strength over the last two days. As per the latest update, it lies centred at 360 km south-southeast of Khepupara (Bangladesh), 350 km south-southeast of Sagar Islands (West Bengal), and 390 km south-southeast of Canning (West Bengal) around 5.30 pm on Saturday.

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