Cyclone Remal Update: Depression To Intensify Into A Severe Cyclonic Storm, Says IMD
India Meteorological Department has confirmed that the SCS (possibly called Remal) will make landfall around May 26-27.
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The India Meteorological Department in its latest bulletin has said that a well-marked low-pressure area lies over the west-central and adjoining south Bay of Bengal.
It is very likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm by May 25 morning and reach near Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts by May 26 evening as a severe cyclonic storm.
Heavy rainfall had lashed parts of Kolkata on Thursday morning, and IMD has predicted that these weather conditions will continue to prevail with Gangetic West Bengal likely to get isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall on May 26 and May 27.
Heavy showers are likely to hit some districts, including North and South 24-Parganas and East Midnapore, on Saturday, the day the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections is scheduled.
As per IMD's prediction, the probability of cyclogenesis (formation of depression) is high for the next 24-48 hours.
A few days ago, the director of the IMD's Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Centre, Sunanda, informed ANI that a low-pressure area is likely to form over the southwest Bay of Bengal around May 22. This system was expected to move northeastwards and intensify into a depression over the central Bay of Bengal by the morning of May 24.
Where And When will Cyclone Remal Make Landfall?
Various weather models are indicating the landfall point varying from Odisha to Bangladesh coasts. The global forecast systems of ECAI and NCEP indicate that Cyclone Remal will make landfall crossing the Odisha coast. In contrast, the global forecast system of IMD, NCUM & IMD MME are predicting landfall over the Bangladesh coast. The severity of the Cyclonic storm also varies across different models. All GFSs are predicting the landfall to happen between 5:30 PM on May 26 to 2:30 AM on May 27.
IMD Issues Warnings For Fishermen
IMD has predicted rough to very rough sea conditions over central and adjoining south Bay of Bengal from May 23 and over the North Bay of Bengal from May 24 evening and continue till May 27 evening. Rough to very rough sea conditions are also predicted along & off the coast of Bangladesh, West Bengal and adjoining North Odisha from May 25 till May 27. Hence Fishermen are advised not to venture into the south Bay of Bengal till May 24, central Bay of Bengal till May 26 and North Bay of Bengal from May 24-27.
Will Cyclone Remal Affect Monsoon Arrival In India?
The trajectory of Cyclone Remal is still not confirmed but if the severe cyclonic storm hits the Indian coast, then it could aid the monsoon's onset. Whereas, a northward movement towards Bangladesh could delay the monsoon's arrival.
IMD has forecast the monsoon to reach Kerala around Friday, May 31.
What Does Remal Mean?
Remal means 'sand' in Arabic. The previous severe cyclonic storm that hit the coastlines of India was Cyclone Michaung which made landfall crossing south Andhra Pradesh coast between 12.30 PM and 2.30 PM on December 5, 2023, leaving its maximum fury to be felt in Chennai and adjoining areas in neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
The Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (RSMC) are responsible for monitoring and prediction of tropical cyclones over their respective regions. They are also responsible for naming the cyclones. In 2020, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) provided a list of 169 cyclone names. If the current cyclonic circulation in the Bay of Bengal develops into a cyclone, it will be named 'Remal' according to the list. However, the IMD has not yet officially announced this name and will only be declared once the depression intensifies into a cyclonic storm.
List Of Cyclone Names
Below is the list of names for tropical cyclones over the North Indian Ocean provided by IMD
