Depression over Bay of Bengal will turn into cyclone: Meteorological Office

A depression over the Southwest Bay of Bengal which is currently located 1220 km south-southwest of Digha in West Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm called Amphan on Saturday.

The deep depression over southeast Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood remained practically stationary during past six hours and rapidly intensified into a cyclonic storm ‘Amphan’,” stated a bulletin by the India Meteorological Department.

It also stated that currently the storm is located at about 1040 km south of Paradip and 1200 km southwest of Digha in West Bengal.

According to the bulletin storm will very likely further intensify into a “severe cyclonic storm” during next 12 hours and into a very severe cyclonic storm by 12 am on May 18.

“ It is very likely to move north-north eastwards across north east Bay of Bengal towards West Bengal and adjourning Odisha coasts during 18th to 20th May,” stated the bulletin.

The cyclone will cause heavy to very heavy rainfall from May 19 to 20 in the coastal districts of West Bengal such as East and West Medinipur, Hooghly, Kolkata, North and South 24 Paraganas.

Coastal areas of West Bengal will witness a gradual increase of wind speeds from May 19 afternoon with gusts up to 90 km per hour.