Super Cyclonic Storm ‘AMPHAN’ is likely to cross West Bengal – Bangladesh coasts between Digha and Hatiya Islands

Bhubaneswar: May 19: According to the latest release (at 1100 Hrs. IST) by the National Weather Forecasting Centre/Cyclone Warning Division of the India Meteorological Department:

The Super Cyclonic Storm‘AMPHAN’ over West central Bay of Bengal moved north-northeastwards with a speed of 15 kmph during past 06 hours and lay centred at 0830 hrs IST of 19^th May, 2020 near latitude 16.0°N and longitude 86.8°E over West central Bay of Bengal about 480 km nearly south of Paradip (Odisha), 630 km south-southwest of Digha (West Bengal) and 750 km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh).

It is very likely to move north-northeastwards across northwest Bay of Bengal and cross West Bengal – Bangladesh coasts between Digha (West Bengal) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) close to Sundarbans during the Afternoon / Evening of 20^th May 2020 with maximum sustained wind speed of 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph.

Rainfall has commenced over coastal Odisha since early hours of today. Rainfall intensity is likely to increase gradually and become maximum during 19^th night to 20^th afternoon.

Light to moderate rainfall is very likely at most places of coastal Odisha with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara and Bhadrak Districts and isolated heavyfalls over Jajpur, Balasore,Cuttack, Mayurbhanj, Khordha & Puri districts on 19^th May and isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over north coastal Odisha (Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak and Keonjhargarh Districts) on 20^th May 2020.

Squally wind speed reaching 45 to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is prevailing along & off south  Odisha coast. It is very likely to increase and extend northwards becoming 55 to 65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph northwards to north Odisha coast by today afternoon and along & off West Bengal coast by tonight.

The wind speed will gradually increase becoming gale wind speed reaching 75 to 85 kmph gusting to 95 kmph from 20^th morning along and off north Odisha (Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts) coast and West Bengal (east & west Medinipur, south & north 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hoogli, Kolkata Districts) coast. It will gradually increase thereafter becoming 100 to 110 kmph gusting to 125 kmph along & off the above mentioned districts of North Odisha.

Squally wind speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph is likely to prevail over Puri, Khordha, Cuttack, Jajpur districts of Odisha during 20^th May 2020. (inputs from PIB)