The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning for a potential severe cyclonic storm expected to affect the coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh in the coming days. The IMD had previously issued a yellow alert for several districts of West Bengal and a red alert for fishermen in the state.
According to the latest bulletin, the well-marked low-pressure area in the Central Bay of Bengal developed into a depression at 5:30 am on Friday. It is forecasted to move northeastward and intensify into a cyclone over east-central Bay of Bengal by Saturday morning, likely to be named Cyclone Remal.
The cyclone is expected to move nearly northwards, becoming a severe cyclone by the evening of May 25. It is then likely to cross the Bangladesh and West Bengal coasts between Sagar Island and Khepupara around midnight on May 26 as a severe cyclonic storm.
On Friday, Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, West Midnapore, and Jhargram are expected to experience thunderstorms with lightning and rain.
From Saturday, a yellow alert has been issued for thunderstorms and gusty winds reaching 30-40 kmph with light to moderate rain in most parts. Heavy rain (7-11 cm) is expected in East Midnapore, South 24 Parganas, and North 24 Parganas.
The IMD has also issued a red alert for fishermen, advising them not to venture into the south Bay of Bengal till Friday, central Bay of Bengal till Saturday, and North Bay of Bengal from Friday onwards till Monday morning.
Kolkata recorded a temperature of 34.8 degrees Celsius on Thursday with maximum humidity touching 98 percent. Northern parts of Bengal experienced light rain.
Dry weather is expected in Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, and Malda on Friday, while thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds are likely in all North Bengal districts from Sunday, accompanied by heavy rain in some places.