“Remal” will touch down on Sunday, according to IMD

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted on Friday that a depression over the middle Bay of Bengal will strengthen into a cyclonic storm by Saturday morning and subsequently develop into a severe cyclonic storm by Saturday night. The storm is expected to be dubbed “Remal.”

With winds of 120 kmph, it may deliver significant rainfall to the northeastern states, north Odisha, and the coastal region of West Bengal. The storm will flood coastal regions that are low lying.

By May 25 in the morning, the depression is expected to keep moving northeast and strengthen into a cyclonic storm named “Remal,” with a center of pressure between 34 and 47 knots (1 KT, or Knot, is equivalent to 1.852 kmph). It would then proceed almost due north, strengthening into a strong cyclonic storm (48–63 KT) on the night of the 25th, according to IMD.

At midnight on Sunday, the strong cyclonic storm is expected to reach the shores of Bangladesh and neighboring West Bengal between Sagar Island and Khepupara as it moves northward. On Sunday night, the wind will pick up to 110–120 kmph.

Between May 26 and May 28, the IMD issued a warning of significant rainfall in coastal West Bengal, north Odisha, and many northeastern states, including Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, Assam, and south Manipur.

“North BoB will see a gale starting in the morning of May 25 with winds gusting to 80 kmph in the 60–70 kmph range. It would then pick up speed, reaching 110–120 kmph with gusts up to 120 kmph in the evening of May 26 and 100–110 kmph in the morning over the North Bay of Bengal, according to IMD.

“On top of that, low-lying coastal West Bengal and Bangladesh regions are expected to be submerged by a storm surge that is around 1.0 meters above astronomical tide. The water will be choppy at the same time, it said.

The IMD advised fishermen not to go out to sea and warned of severe damage to thatched dwellings, tree uprooting, and traffic congestion from waterlogging. It recommended that fishing be stopped and that people stay indoors and stay out of the impacted regions.

In addition, the IMD predicted that over the next four to five days, heatwave to severe heatwave conditions would probably persist across the plains of northwest India and over the western Himalayan area, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat.

Many locations in Rajasthan recorded high temperatures between 44 and 47°C. Temperature reports from other areas ranged from 40 to 44°C.

Coastal regions will be flooded

At midnight on Sunday, Cyclone Remal in the Bay of Bengal is expected to make landfall between Sagar Island in West Bengal and Khepupara, Bangladesh.

System could grow further into a severe cyclonic storm by night and become a cyclonic storm by Saturday AM.

The Met Office has issued a warning on very heavy rainfall in North Odisha and West Bengal’s coastal areas on May 26–27.

It has been recommended that fishermen at sea return to land and avoid entering the Bay of Bengal until May 27.

When the storm makes landfall, low-lying coastal West Bengal and Bangladesh districts are predicted to be submerged.

Storm on Sunday is expected to reach wind speeds of 120 km/h.