Cyclonic circulation brewing over Bay of Bengal, Odisha likely to witness summer cyclone on May 6

Cyclonic circulation brewing over Bay of Bengal, Odisha likely to witness summer cyclone on May 6

By Mahendra Darjee

Balangir, May 2: A cyclonic circulation is likely to develop over the southeast Bay of Bengal around May 6, informed the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday.

As per IMD, a low pressure area is likely to form over the same region under the influence of the cyclonic circulation during the subsequent 48 hours.

Even as several models indicate that the system may intensify into a cyclone, no such forecast has been issued so far by India’s premier weather agency.

IMD scientist, Dr Naresh Kumar said, “As per the forecast issued, the IMD has mentioned about the formation of cyclonic circulation and subsequently into a low pressure area over southeast Bay of Bengal region.”

According to Kumar, it is too early to predict or say anything whether the system will intensify or not, its path and other aspects. “IMD is keeping a close watch and only forecast for next few days has been issued. Once the low pressure forms, necessary updates will be issued,” he said.

Sarat Sahoo, weather expert said, “The conditions are favourable for the formation of cyclone. But it is too early to say anything. Only after the formation of low pressure, we can say anything.”

The Odisha government on Tuesday put 11 departments and Collectors on alert mode for effective handling of any emergency situation arising out of the weather system.

Briefing the media, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Satyabrata Sahu said summer cyclones are always unpredictable. However, there is no need to panic as all measures are being taken to deal with any situation as May month is prone to cyclones.

“Chief minister Naveen Patnaik has reviewed the situation and the state is fully prepared to deal with any emerging situation. Several cyclones have been formed in the Bay of Bengal in the past including Fani in 2019, Amphan in 2020 and Yaas in 2021. Already, state-level and district-level control rooms have been set up in Odisha and the situation is being closely monitored even though no cyclone forecast has been issued by IMD as of now,” said the SRC.