Cyclonic Circulation, Low-Pressure Area Likely To Develop Over Bay Of Bengal By Next Week: IMD

The IMD said that the cyclonic circulation is likely to form a low-pressure area above the same region within 48 hours from Saturday. This means that the low-pressure area is likely to form next week.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that a cyclonic circulation will develop over the southeast Bay of Bengal sometime around Saturday, May 6, 2023. There were no cyclonic storms over the Indian seas in April this year. ( Image Source :Getty )

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that a cyclonic circulation will develop over the southeast Bay of Bengal sometime around Saturday, May 6, 2023. India’s weather agency also said in a statement dated May 2 that the cyclonic circulation is likely to form a low-pressure area above the same region within 48 hours from Saturday. This means that the low-pressure area is likely to develop next week.

The US weather forecast model Global Forecast System (GFS) and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) earlier predicted the same phenomenon, following which the IMD released its statement, according to a PTI report.

"Some models are suggesting that it would be a cyclone. We are keeping a watch. Updates will be provided regularly," Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology, IMD, was quoted as saying in the report.

Skymet Weather Services, a private Indian company that provides weather forecasting services, has said that there is very little likelihood of any tropical storm coming up in the first half of May 2023, the report stated.

There were no cyclonic storms over the Indian seas in April this year. Therefore, the year 2023 is the fourth consecutive year without a tropical storm in April.

Odisha chief minister holds meeting to review state’s preparedness for potential cyclone

At a high-level meeting held on Tuesday to review the preparedness of Odisha to tackle a cyclone, the state’s chief minister Naveen Patnaik asked officials to be prepared for the aftermath of a potential cyclone.

Patnaik chaired the meeting after the IMD released the statement on Tuesday.

Cyclone Fani struck the coast of Odisha on May 2, 2019, and was the worst cyclone to hit the state since the 1999 Odisha cyclone. Patnaik mentioned the cyclone during the meeting, and said that it is difficult to track the path of cyclones during summer.

The chief minister advised officials to move people living in low-lying areas to shelters, if necessary. He also asked them to devise plans for relief and restoration following the cyclone.