Odisha: Amphan intensifies into Severe Cyclonic Storm

New Delhi: The cyclonic storm Amphan over Southeast Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood has intensified into a Severe Cyclonic Storm on Sunday.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued cyclone alert for West Bengal coast and cyclone watch for Odisha coast.

“The Cyclonic Storm ‘AMPHAN’ moved slowly northwestwards with a speed of 03 kmph during past 06 hours, intensified into a Severe Cyclonic Strom and lay centred over the same region, about 990 km south of Paradip (Odisha), 1140 km south-southwest of Digha (West Bengal) and 1260 km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh),” said the IMD.

It is very likely to intensify further into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm during next 12 hours.

It is very likely to move nearly northwards slowly during next 24 hours and then re-curve north-northeastwards and move fast across northwest Bay of Bengal and cross West Bengal –Bangladesh coasts between Sagar Islands (West Bengal) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) during the Afternoon / Evening of 20th May 2020 as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm.

The IMD issued yellow warning for Odisha.

It said heavy rainfall is very likely to occur at isolated places over the district of Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara.

Rainfall will commence from 18th May evening.

Squally wind speed reaching 45 to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is likely to commence along and off south Odisha coast from 18th evening, it said.

“Squally wind speed reaching 45 to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is likely along and off Odisha coast on 19th May. The wind speed will gradually increase becoming gale wind speed reaching 75 to 85 kmph gusting to 95 kmph from 20th morning along and off north Odisha coast,” the IMD said.