West Bengal, Odisha, Andaman and Nicobar Islands likely to receive light to moderate rainfall
The depression intensified into a deep depression in the east-central Bay of Bengal on October 23, 5.30 am. Photo: Windy_ A depression that formed over the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a deep depression, signalling that it is on track to become a cyclone, showed projections from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The cyclone will be named Sitrang once it forms.
The depression formed October 22, 2022, which intensified in the east-central Bay of Bengal on October 23, 5.30 am, according to IMD’s latest bulletin.
The previous bulletin predicted that it might intensify into a deep depression on October 22, 11.30 pm, suggesting that tracking its intensification is difficult.
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The wind speed is currently 55-65 kilometres per hour (kmph), with 75 kmph gusts.
A deep depression forms when wind speeds reach 49-61 kmph, according to IMD.
The system may intensify further on October 23. “It is very likely to move northwestwards during the next 12 hrs and intensify into a cyclonic storm over the central Bay of Bengal, IMD said in its latest bulletin.
The following day, the system is predicted to form a severe cyclonic storm, with wind speeds reaching 80-90 kmph, it added.
Any cyclone with wind speeds between 89 and 117 kmph is a severe cyclone, according to the IMD.
By the early morning of October 25, it is expected to recurve and move north-northeastwards, making landfall on the Bangladesh coast between Tinkona Island and Sandwip, the bulletin added.
Wind speed could peak at 112 kmph in the wee hours of October 25, according to the weather forecast visualisation website Windy, which uses data from European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.
Rainfall alert
On October 23, West Bengal and Odisha coasts will likely receive light to moderate rainfall, according to predictions.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands, too, may receive light to moderate rainfall in most places, with heavy rain at isolated places over Andaman & Nicobar Islands, IMD predicted.
Read more: Cyclone Sitrang: Bengal gears up to combat Sundarbans impact
On October 24, light to moderate rainfall with isolated heavy rain can be expected, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places the following day over coastal districts in West Bengal.
Odisha may see a similar pattern unfold over coastal districts on October 24, with isolated heavy rainfall over north coastal Odisha districts the following day.
South Assam, East Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura may witness light to moderate rain falling in most places, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places on October 24.
The next day, these regions may witness light to moderate rainfall at most places, with isolated heavy to very heavy rain and isolated extremely heavy rainfall over Tripura and Mizoram on October 25, it added.
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