Cyclone Yaas Intensifies into ‘Severe Cyclonic Storm,’ Heavy Rain Likely Over Coastal AP, Odisha and West Bengal Today

Weather Update: Cyclonic storm Yaas, formed over the east- central Bay of Bengal, has intensified and converted into a 'Severe Cyclone' category (wind speed - 100 to 110 kms/ hr), the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday.

Yaas intensified late night on May 24 and is set to strengthen into 'Very Severe Cyclone' by May 25 as it traverses north-westwards and advances towards the north Odisha- West Bengal coast by Wednesday morning.

Position of Cyclone Yaas:

As per the latest data available on the position of cyclone at 5 am on Tuesday, Yaas moved at a speed of 9 kms / hr overnight and lay 360 kms south-south- east of Paradip, 460 kms south-southeast of Balasore, 450 kms south-southeast of Digha and 480 kms south-southeast of Khepupara in Bangladesh.

Today, heavy to very heavy rainfall (64mm to 124mm) is predicted over the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh alongside Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Khurda, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Balasore districts of Odisha. Heavy rain is also predicted over Ganjam, Dhenkanal and Mayurbhanj districts on Tuesday.

In case of West Bengal, heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected over South 24 Parganas and Medinipur districts and heavy rain likely over North 24 Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly districts on Tuesday.

The Andhra Pradesh- Odisha- West Bengal coastline will experience very strong winds blowing with speeds 50 to 60 km /hr gusting to 70km/hr on Tuesday. As the storm approaches the coast by Wednesday, winds would pick and maintain speed between 155 to 165 km /hr gusting to 185 km/hr over Bhadrak, Balasore, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts of Odisha.

As a result, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of very rough to phenomenally rough sea conditions to prevail off the coast till May 26 and issued advisory warning fishermen from going into deep sea till Thursday.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has requested the people living in and around the coastal regions of Odisha to cooperate with the local administration and shift to cyclone shelters. Addressing the people of the state yesterday, the CM also asked them to stick to COVID-19 protocols and wear two masks.