After Tauktae, India Braces For Cyclone 'Yaas'; Powerful Storm Likely To Form Over Bay of Bengal On Weekend

The sea surface temperature at 31 degrees above the Bay of Bengal, around 1-2 degrees Celsius above average, makes oceanic and atmospheric conditions favourable for cyclone storm development.

Kolkata: After cyclone ‘Tauktae’ devasted parts of Gujarat claiming around 27 lives, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday has now warned against a low-pressure area likely to be developed over the east-central Bay of Bengal and expected to make landfall around May 23.

What’s the warning on another cyclone?

The cyclone is termed as ‘Yaas’, a name was given by Oman. While indicating about the likely formation of low-pressure area over Bay of Bengal next week, IMD said it will mention officially in the forecasts once it comes in the forecast skill range, according to a report in Hindustan Times.

Based on its outlook on cyclogenesis, Sunitha Devi,  in charge, cyclones at the IMD said the low-pressure system can intensify. Devi also noted that the sea surface temperature SST) is at 31 degrees above the Bay of Bengal, around 1-2 degrees Celsius above average, making oceanic and atmospheric conditions favourable for cyclone storm development.

At least 27 people, including seven people in Gujarat, have reportedly been killed in the cyclonic storm. The cyclone has impacted several parts of Gujarat and left behind a trail of destruction along the coast, uprooting electric poles, trees and damaging thousands of houses and roads. Tauktae, characterised as an extremely severe cyclonic storm on Monday, has now weakened into a “cyclonic storm" and will gradually become a “deep depression" as it moves northwards, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Gujarat and Diu on Tuesday to review the situation and damage due to Cyclone Tauktae.