A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm by Saturday evening and make landfall on Sunday night, May 26, along the coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh, according to the Meteorological Department. The cyclone is anticipated to have wind speeds of 110-120 km/h, with gusts reaching up to 135 km/h.
The Met office has issued warnings of extremely heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of West Bengal and northern Odisha on May 26-27. Parts of northeast India may experience heavy precipitation on May 27-28. A storm surge of up to 1.5 meters is expected to inundate low-lying areas of coastal West Bengal and Bangladesh during landfall.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the northern Bay of Bengal until the morning of May 27. The Met department has issued a red alert for the coastal districts of South and North 24 Parganas in West Bengal on May 26 and 27, predicting extremely heavy rain in some areas.
The weather system, currently a deep depression over the east-central Bay of Bengal, is located approximately 380 km south of Sagar Island in South 24 Parganas district. It is likely to develop into a cyclonic storm by Saturday evening and move northwards. By Sunday morning, it is expected to strengthen further into a severe cyclonic storm and cross the coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh between Sagar Island and Khepupara around midnight. The cyclone will be named "Remal," a name provided by Oman under the system for naming cyclones in the north Indian Ocean region.
An orange alert has been issued for the districts of Kolkata, Howrah, Nadia, and Purba Medinipur, warning of wind speeds of 80-90 km/h, gusting to 100 km/h, and heavy to very heavy rain at one or two locations on May 26-27. Wind speeds in Hooghly, Purba Bardhaman, and Paschim Medinipur districts are expected to reach 60-70 km/h, gusting to 80 km/h, accompanied by heavy rain. Other districts in South Bengal will experience wind speeds of 40-50 km/h, gusting to 60 km/h.
The India Meteorological Department has warned of localized flooding and significant damage to vulnerable structures, power and communication lines, kutcha roads, crops, and orchards in South and North 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal. Residents in the affected areas have been advised to stay indoors and evacuate vulnerable structures.
