Cyclone Amphan Live Update: Super Cyclonic Storm Moves Closer to Coastal Line; Evacuations in Odisha and West Bengal

The extremely severe cyclonic storm Amphan has recently turned into a super cyclonic storm which prompting the West Bengal and Odisha governments to start evacuating people from vulnerable areas. The Super Cyclone Storm 'AMPHAN' (pronounced as UM-PUN) over Westcentral and adjoining central parts of South Bay of Bengal moved nearly northwards with a speed of 11 kmph during past 06 hours and lay centered at 1730 IST of today, the 18th May, 2020 near latitude 14.0°N and longitude 86.3°E, over Westcentral Bay of Bengal about 700 km nearly south of Paradip (Odisha), 860 km south-southwest of Digha (West Bengal) and 980 km south-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/Evening of 20th May 2020 as an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 165-175 kmph gusting to 195 kmph, says Indian Meteriological Department reports in it’s morning bulletin.      

Evacuations has Begun in Odisha and West Bengal

Evacuations have begun as Odisha and West Bengal brace for Amphan which has now turned into a super cyclonic storm. The IMD has issued an orange alert for Bengal and Odisha as the cyclone inches closer to the coasts. NDRF teams are already on the ground.

The Northern Limit of Monsoon continues to pass through Lat.5°N/Long.85°E, Lat.8°N/Long.90°E, Car Nicobar, Lat.11°N/Long.95°E.

Due to likely northwesterly winds at lower levels & dry weather over most parts of northwest, central and Gujarat from tomorrow onwards; heat wave very likely to occur over Vidarbha during 18th-22nd; over East Rajasthan, Gujarat state and Madhya Pradesh during 19th-22nd May and over West Rajasthan during 20th-22nd May, 2020.

Rain/Thundershowers observed (from 0830 to 1730 hours IST of today): at many places over Kerala & Mahe; a few places over Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan, Muzaffarabad & East Madhya Pradesh and at isolated places over West Uttar Pradesh, SubHimalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, Assam & Meghalaya.

As per yesterday’s report, maximum temperatures are appreciably above normal (3.1°C to 5.0°C) at isolated places over Gangetic West Bengal and Saurashtra & Kutch while minimum Temperature Departures as on 18-05-2020: Minimum temperatures are appreciably above normal (3.1°C to 5.0°C) at isolated places over Saurashtra & Kutch, Assam & Meghalaya, Coastal Karnataka and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.