IMD Warns of Cyclone Remal’s Approach to West Bengal and Bangladesh

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a warning that a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm named Remal, reaching the coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh by Sunday evening (May 26). Anticipated wind speeds could reach up to 102 kilometers per hour by Sunday, with very heavy rainfall forecasted for coastal districts of West Bengal, north Odisha, Mizoram, Tripura, and south Manipur on May 26-27.

Fisherfolk have been advised against venturing into the Bay of Bengal until May 27. Scientists attribute the increasing intensity and duration of cyclonic storms to warmer sea surface temperatures, with the Bay of Bengal currently experiencing temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius, conducive to cyclone formation. While the cyclone may initially aid the progress of the monsoon over the Bay of Bengal, it could later detach and potentially delay monsoon progress in the affected regions.