IMD Forecast: Cyclone likely to build over southeast Bay of Bengal by May 16

India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday informed that a well-marked low-pressure area over Southeast Bay of Bengal is likely to concentrate into a depression and further intensify into a Cyclonic Storm by the evening of May 16.

New Delhi: A well marked low pressure area over Southeast Bay of Bengal is likely to concentrate into a depression and further intensify into a Cyclonic Storm by the evening of May 16, informed India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday.

The latest forecast of IMD stated, "The Well Marked low pressure area over Southeast Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood persists. It is very likely to concentrate into a depression over the same region during next 12 hours and further intensify into a cyclonic storm over Central parts of the South Bay of Bengal by 16th may evening."

The Cyclonic Storm is very likely to move Northwestwards initially till 17th May. Then it will recurve Northeastwards towards north Bay of Bengal, from 18th to 20th May.

"There will be continuous intensification of this system. But at present, it has not been predicted as which coast this cyclone is going to cross. It can be predicted only after a depression has been created. As the sea conditions will not remain normal, so we have advised the fishermen not to venture into the south and central Bay of Bengal between 18th to 20th May and asked those who are currently in the sea, to come back to the coasts," said IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, while speaking to ETV Bharat.

He also informed that IMD has predicted rainfall in the coastal areas of Odisha and West Bengal in between May 18-20. "On May 19, north coastal Odisha districts and on May 20, coastal districts of West Bengal may witness heavy to very heavy rainfall, under the influence of low pressure system," IMD DG added.

As per the IMD forecast, conditions are very likely to become favourable for advance of Southwest monsoon in some parts of Southeast Bay of Bengal, Andaman sea and Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the next 48 hours. However, the sea conditions would remain very rough over South Bay of Bengal and adjoining Andaman sea over the next few days.

Squally weather conditions with wind speed of 45 to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph are likely to prevail over North Andhra Pradesh and South Odisha coast from May 18 onwards. While the North Eastern states are likely to continue to experience scattered to fairly widespread rain thundershowers during next 5 days.

IMD DG Mohapatra also informed that if the depression intensifies to become a cyclone, it will be named as AMPHAN, which has been suggested by Thailand. It would be the first cyclone to be formed in the North Indian Ocean, this year.