Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : According to the latest release (at 5.30 pm) by the National Weather Forecasting Centre/Cyclone Warning Division of the India Meteorological Department, the Super Cyclonic Storm‘AMPHAN’ (pronounced as UM-PUN) over Westcentral Bay of Bengal moved north-northeastwards at a speed of 18 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centred at 2.30 pm on May 19, 2020, as an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm near latitude 17.0°N and longitude 86.9°E over Westcentral Bay of Bengal about 420 km nearly south of Paradip (Odisha), 570 km south-southwest of Digha (West Bengal), and 700 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 to evening hours on May 20, 2020, at a maximum sustained wind speed of 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph. The system is now being continuously tracked by the Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) at Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), according to a PIB release.
Heavy rainfall Warning:
Odisha : Light to moderate rainfall is very likely at most places of coastal Odisha with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places in Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara and Bhadrak Districts and isolated heavyfalls over Jajpur, Balasore, Cuttack, Mayurbhanj, Khordha & Puri districts on May 19 and isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over north coastal Odisha (Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Kendrapara and Keonjhargarh Districts) on May 20, 2020.
West Bengal : Coastal districts of Gangetic West Bengal (East Medinipur, South & North 24 Parganas) are likely to experience light to moderate rainfall at many places commencing from May 19 evening. Rainfall intensity is likely to increase gradually and become maximum on May 20. Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places & extremely heavy falls at isolated places likely over Gangetic West Bengal (east & west Medinipur, south & north 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hoogli, Kolkata and adjoining districts) on May 20 and isolated heavy rain over interior districts on May 21, 2020.
Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim : Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places over Malda & Dinajpur districts on May 20 and over most of the districts of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim on May 21, 2020.
Assam & Meghalaya : Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places over the western districts of Assam & Meghalaya on May 21.