Bay of Bengal depression intensifying into cyclone, MET issues alert

NEW DELHI: The deep depression over the Bay of Bengal is gaining strength and has further turned into a cyclonic storm, the Indian Meteorological Department said. The cyclone is likely to intensify into a severe cyclone during the next 12 hours.Under the influence of the Cyclone 'Mora' over east-central Bay of Bengal, which is likely to intensify further into severe cyclonic storm during next 12 hours, conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into some parts of southeast Arabian Sea, southwest Bay of Bengal and east central Bay of Bengal, remaining parts of southeast Bay of Bengal and some parts of west central and northeast Bay of Bengal during the next 24 hours, a weather forecast bulletin of the IMD said.With the strengthening of westerlies and likely northward shift of the shear zone, conditions are also becoming favourable for further advance of Southwest monsoon and its setting in over Kerala and parts of northeastern states around May 30-31, the IMD bulletin said.The trough at mean sea level from West Rajasthan to centre of cyclonic storm over eastcentral Bay of Bengal across Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha extending upto 0.9 km above mean sea level persists.According to the IMD, the deep depression over east-central Bay of Bengal moved further northeastwards during past 6 hours with a speed of 18 kmph and lay centred at 1730 hours IST of Sunday over east-central Bay of Bengal near Latitude 15.7 degree N and Longitude 90.7 degree E, about 800 km nearly south­-southeast of Kolkata and 740 km south­-southwest of Chittagong.Thuderstorms accompanied with squall are very likely to strike parts of Bengal and the condition may prevail till May 30, the National Weather Forecasting Cetre of the IMD said in a press release. On May 31, the Met has issued a heavy rain warning for the region. Rain and thundershower are likely to occur at a few places in Odisha in next 24 hours due to cyclonic storm ‘Mora’.'Mora' moved from the east central Bay of Bengal to the north-northeastward and lay centred about 610 km near the south east of Paradip this morning, the MeT office said.An advice has been given for hoisting Distant Warning Signal Number Two (DW-II) at Paradip and Gopalpur ports in Odisha.From June 3 to June 5, the IMD predicts rain and thundershower at many places over Kerala, Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and northeastern states, at a few places over east India and eastern Madhya Pradesh and at isolated places over rest of the country outside west India.Conditions are also favourable for the advance of southwest monsoon into northeast segment of India covering Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura during May 30-31, the release further added. With the strengthening of westerlies and northward shift of shear zone, conditions are also becoming favourable for the advance of southwest monsoon into some parts of south Arabian sea, entire Maldives-Comorin area and south Kerala during May 30-31, the release added.Severe heat wave conditions are observed at a few places over Rajasthan; heat wave conditions observed at a few places with severe heat wave at isolated places over west Madhya Pradesh; heat wave at isolated places with severe heat wave at isolated places over Vidarbha & east Madhya Pradesh and heat wave at isolated places over Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi.