Cyclone Remal To Hit Bengal Coast Tonight, Odisha Braces for Peripheral Impact

Bhubaneswar: Cyclone Remal, churning in the Bay of Bengal, has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm, bringing threats of heavy rain, storm surges, and strong winds to the coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued warnings and advisories as the cyclone is expected to make landfall by midnight on Sunday, May 26.

SCS Remal over North BoB is about 260km SSW of Khepupara 240km SSE of Sagar Islands. Max wind speed of 90-100 kmph over cyclone centre. To move northwards, intensify further and cross Bangladesh and adj WB coasts by today midnight as SCS with max wind speed of 110-120 kmph . pic.twitter.com/6rkit4cBGB

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

Under the influence of Cyclone Remal, light to moderate rainfall is expected at most places in North Coastal Odisha, with isolated heavy rainfall in the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, and Kendrapada on Sunday. The IMD has issued a Yellow warning for heavy rain (7 to 20 cm) in these districts.

Additionally, an Orange warning has been sounded for moderate thunderstorms accompanied by squall wind speeds reaching 40-50 kmph, lightning, and light to moderate rain in Balasore, Bhadrak, Keonjhar, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Kandhamal, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Angul, Boudh, and Koraput, as well as cities within these districts, until 1 pm on Sunday. Minor damage to loose/unsecured structures, banana trees, and standing crops is possible.

Packing winds exceeding 110 kilometres per hour, Remal is forecast to cross the coastline near Sagar Islands in West Bengal and Khepupara in Bangladesh. The IMD has warned of extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 200 millimetres in districts including North and South 24 Parganas, Purba Medinipur, Howrah, and Hooghly in West Bengal.

In addition to the heavy rainfall, the IMD has also cautioned of storm surges reaching one metre above astronomical tides. This surge has the potential to inundate low-lying areas in Sagar Islands, Khepupara, and surrounding regions during landfall.

Flight operations at Kolkata Airport have been suspended until Monday morning at 9 am to ensure passenger safety. The Eastern Railways has also announced the cancellation of several trains running between Howrah, Singur, Bandel, and adjoining areas until Sunday midnight.

Cyclone Remal marks the second consecutive year a severe storm threatens Bangladesh, following the devastation caused by Cyclone Mocha last May.