Cyclone Amphan is Intensifying as a Serious Storm Surge, Heavy Rain and Wind Threat to India, Bangladesh #Cyclone #Amphan #India #Bangladesh

Cyclone Amphan is quickly strengthening in the Bay of Bengal as it tracks toward India, Bangladesh and Myanmar as a serious threat to one of the world’s most vulnerable populations to cyclones.

Cyclone Amphan (pronounced AM-pun) is currently in the central Bay of Bengal and will track generally northward this weekend and then a turn toward the north-northeast is likely. Its exact track remains uncertain and will determine where the greatest threat from this system will be.

Atmospheric conditions are favorable for development and sea-surface temperatures are very warm. Rapid intensification is a possibility and this tropical cyclone needs to be monitored closely.

Amphan is becoming a hurricane strength system, but could become a major hurricane equivalent system by early Tuesday.

The exact track remains uncertain and as a result areas from northeastern India into Bangladesh and northwestern Myanmar need to be prepared.

As the cyclone approaches the coast on Tuesday night, strong winds, very rough sea conditions, storm surge and heavy rain are likely across Odisha and West Bengal coasts. The Indian Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert to both Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal (South Bengal). The alert urges the residents to be prepared for gale winds and very heavy rainfall.

A red alert has been issued for Gangetic West Bengal, which urges residents to take action to protect themselves from the extremely heavy rainfall and severe winds forecast for that day.

Sailors and fisherman in Bangladesh have been told to not venture into the Indian Ocean.

Depending on where it makes landfall, significant storm surge is possible, which could be destructive. Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable to dangerous storm surge flooding.

Heavy rainfall with the threat of flooding is also a serious concern. It is too early to know how much rain will fall but areas in yellow, orange and red in the map below have the greatest chance of flooding rain.

Heavy rain and gusty winds are also expected this weekend over Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Strong, gusty winds are also anticipated. Winds near hurricane force are possible, especially in areas closer to where the center of the storm tracks.

The name Amphan is suggested by Thailand and will be the last name from the original list of 64 cyclone names proposed back in September 2004 for storms over the north Indian Ocean. The WMO guidelines stipulate that the countries in the region must name storms in any ocean basin. For the northern Indian Ocean, now thirteen countries suggest the names. The IMD’s regional specialised meteorological centre (RSMC) in New Delhi monitors the cyclogenesis, issues advisories and names the cyclones.

Courtesy of weather.com

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