Amphan: Heavy to very heavy rainfall occur at isolated places over north coastal districts of Odisha

Delhi: May 20: According to the latest release (at 10.00 Hrs. IST) by the National Weather Forecasting Centre/Cyclone Warning Division of the India Meteorological Department:

The Super Cyclonic Storm ‘AMPHAN’ (pronounced as UM-PUN) over Northwest Bay of Bengal moved north-northeastwards with a speed of 22 kmph during past 06 hours and lay centred at 0830 hrs IST of  today, the 20^th May, 2020 as an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm over Northwest Bay of Bengal near latitude 19.8°N and longitude 87.7°E, about 120 km east-southeast of Paradip (Odisha), 200 km south of Digha (West Bengal) and 360 km 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 Afternoon to Evening hours of today, the 20^th May 2020 with maximum sustained wind speed of 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph.

Landfall process shall commence from today afternoon. After landfall the system is likely to move north-northeastwards close to Kolkata.

The system is now being continuously tracked by the Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) at Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Paradip (Odisha) and Gopalpur (Odisha).

Heavy to very heavy rainfall occurred at isolated places over north coastal districts of Odisha and heavy rainfall over coastal West Bengal during past 24 hours. Gale Wind, speed reaching 100-110 kmph gusting to 125 kmph, prevailed along & off north coastal Odisha districts and 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph prevailed along & off south coastal Odisha.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely at isolated places over north coastal Odisha (Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Kendrapara and Keonjhargarh Districts) and isolated heavy falls over Jagatsinghpur district on 20^th May 2020. 

Gale wind, speed reaching 90 to 100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph is prevailing along and off Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts of Odisha and squally wind speed reaching 55 to 65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph is prevailing along & off remaining coastal districts of Odisha  (Puri, Khordha, Cuttack, Jajpur) during 20^th May 2020.

It will gradually increase becoming 100 to 110 kmph gusting to 125 kmph along & off the above mentioned districts of North Odisha during forenoon to afternoon of 20^th May 2020.

After the landfall the system is very likely to continue to move north-northeastwards, across Gangetic West Bengal & Bangladesh and weaken gradually. It is likely to maintain the intensity of Cyclonic Storm till the morning of 21^st May and thereafter it will weaken into a Deep Depression over Bangladesh.  (Inputs from PIB)