Cyclone Remal: Orange Alert For 12 Odisha Districts Till 4:30 PM

Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange warning for 12 districts of Odisha until 4:30 pm as Severe Cyclonic Storm Remal continues to gain strength in the Bay of Bengal, set to make landfall along the West Bengal coast by midnight.

Moderate thunderstorms, accompanied by squall winds of 40-50 kmph, lightning, and light to moderate rainfall, are forecasted for districts including Balasore, Bhadrak, Keonjhar, and Mayurbhanj. Potential minor damage to loose structures, banana trees, and standing crops is expected.

Additionally, a yellow warning has been issued for several other districts, indicating the possibility of light to moderate thundershowers with lightning and rainfall.

The cyclonic storm, currently positioned approximately 220 km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh), is expected to intensify further as it moves northwards, crossing Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts between Sagar Island and Khepupara. Maximum sustained wind speeds of 110-120 kmph, gusting up to 135 kmph, are anticipated at landfall.

SCS Remal over North BoB is about 220km SSW of Khepupara, 210km SE of Sagar Islands. Max wind speed of 95-105 kmph is over cyclone centre. Likely to move northwards intensify and cross Bangladesh and adj WB coasts midnight of today, the as SCS with max wind speed of 110-120 kmph. pic.twitter.com/QKFuPyWl0v

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 26, 2024

In Odisha, heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in Balasore and Bhadrak, with isolated heavy rainfall in Mayurbhanj, Jagatsinghpur, and Kendrapada districts. Squally winds, reaching speeds of 50-60 kmph and gusting up to 70 kmph, are likely to persist until the morning of May 27.