Friday 19 / April / 2024
Muscat: Indian states on the Bay of Bengal have readied their emergency services to deal with the impact of Cyclone Yaas, which is expected to make landfall between 25 and 27 May.
The cyclone, which was named by Oman, as part of the agreement between countries in the northern Indian Ocean, is likely to hit the coasts of the eastern states of Odisha and West Bengal, as well as India’s eastern neighbour, Bangladesh.
Yaas comes just days after India’s western coastline was rocked by Cyclone Tauktae, which was named by Myanmar. It is named after an aromatic tree, found in some areas of Oman, including the Jabal Akhdar.
Oil from the Yaas tree is extracted for use in perfume, and hair and body oils. The cyclone is expected to “concentrate into a depression over east-central Bay of Bengal by tomorrow, the 23rd May morning,” said the Indian Meteorological Department.
“It is very likely to move north-northwestwards, intensify into a cyclonic storm by 24th May, and further into a very severe cyclonic storm during the subsequent 24 hours.
“It would continue to move north-northwestwards, intensify further and reach north Bay of Bengal near West Bengal and the adjoining north Odisha and Bangladesh coasts around 26th May morning,” added the IMD.
“It is very likely to cross West Bengal and adjoining north Odisha and Bangladesh coasts around the evening of 26th May, 2021.”
Under the effect of this system, isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over Odisha on the 25th, and Jharkhand and sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim on the 26th. Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected over Odisha on the 26th, and Gangetic West Bengal on 25 and 26 May, 2021.
Fishermen and sailors have been asked to return to shore at the earliest, and those who are out in the deep sea are also advised to come back to land by 23 May, lest they get caught in the effects of Yaas.
Wind speeds of up to 50 to 60 km/hr were expected on 22 May, increasing to 70 km/hr, over and around the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andaman Sea and the adjoining east, central and southeast Bay of Bengal on 22 May.
It is very likely to increase to 55 to 65 km/hr, and go up to speeds of 75 km/hr over east and central Bay of Bengal and the adjoining north Andaman Sea from the morning of the 23rd.
The wind could then reach gale-force speeds of up to 86 to 75 km/hr, and even cross the 85 km/hr mark. Worse effects are expected off the coasts of Odisha, West Bengal, and Bangladesh, with wind speeds expected to reach up to between 100 and 110 km/hr.
“Sea conditions will be rough to very rough over the Andaman Sea and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal on 22 and 23 May,” said the IMD. “High to very high waves are expected over major parts of the central and north Bay of Bengal and off the Odisha, West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts from 24 to 26 May.”
Countries around the world are grouped together, based on geographic locations, and assigned responsibilities for the naming of cyclones formed in their region. Oman is part of 13 countries that make up the zone comprising the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Northern Indian Ocean.
The other 12 countries are Bangladesh, India, Iran, the Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. “The names of tropical cyclones over the north Indian Ocean will not be repeated, and once used, it will cease to be used again,” said the World Meteorological Organization in its naming guide.
“The name of a tropical cyclone from the South China Sea which crosses Thailand and emerges into the Bay of Bengal as a tropical cyclone will not be changed.”
