cyclone-dana-to-make-landfall-in-odisha-wb-coasts-on-oct-24

Reports suggest that a “severe cyclonic storm” which may hit Odisha-Bengal coast later this week has started to build up over the Bay of Bengal.

 

It has been learnt that this build up is a precursor to the cyclonic system, which is a low-pressure area on the east-central Bay. 

 

The cyclonic storm which has already started to gain momentum has been named Dana— a name given by Qatar, which means ‘rare pearl’ in Arabic.

 

The system will turn into a cyclone by October 23 and will intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by the morning of October 24. The effect of which could be felt on the early hours of October 25 too.

 

As per Met’s projection, the storm will hit land between Puri in Odisha and Sagar Island on the southernmost tip of Bengal, thereby sustaining its intensity as a severe cyclonic storm.

 

The Met office has warned that at the time of landfall, the system is expected to unleash winds blowing at 120 kmph in and around the landfall point. 

 

Swathes of south Bengal, including Kolkata, are likely to be pounded by heavy rain on October 24 and 25. 

 

Route and time frame of Dana 

 

The Met office says that the low-pressure area which was over the east-central Bay of Bengal, adjoining north Andaman Sea has moved west-northwestwards. This has led to a well-marked low-pressure area over east-central Bay of Bengal towards the afternoon. 

 

It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a depression by 22nd October morning and into a cyclonic storm by 23rd October over east-central Bay of Bengal

 

It might move to the northwest and reach northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha-West Bengal coasts by 24th October morning. 

 

Continuing to move northwestwards, it is very likely to cross north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island between the night of 24th and early morning of 25th October as a severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting 120 kmph.

 

The distance between Puri and Sagar Island is over 420 km. A forecast track issued by the Met office on Monday shows north Odisha as the possible area of landfall but the accompanying cone of uncertainty almost reaches Sagar Island, near the Sunderbans, West Bengal.

Dana versus Remal 

 

Remal was the last severe cyclonic storm that came Bengal’s way in May 2024. 

 

The storm made landfall, as a severe cyclonic storm, in the Sunderbans in Bangladesh on May 26 morning. 

 

The storm was around 25km from the tip of the Indian Sunderbans, approximately 140km from Kolkata, leading to winds clocking up to 91km an hour.

 

 

It  felled more than 400 trees in and around the city. There was more than 250mm of rain in 24 hours, flooding many areas.

 

Under Cyclone Dana’s influence, the coastal areas of Bengal and Odisha are likely to get rain from October 23. The intensity of the showers will peak on October 24 and 25.

 

Specific warnings 

 

October 23: Heavy rainfall in East and West Midnapore and North and South 24-Parganas districts reaching up to 7-11cm. 

 

Light to moderate rain and thundershowers at many places in East and West Midnapore and North and South 24-Parganas and a few places in the remaining districts of south Bengal.

 

October 24: Extremely heavy rain — over 20cm — in East Midnapore, West Midnapore and South 24-Parganas districts. 

 

Heavy to very heavy rain about 7-20cm at one or two places in Calcutta, Howrah, Hooghly, North 24-Parganas and Jhargram districts; heavy rain in the remaining districts of south Bengal.

 

October 25: Extremely heavy rain in West Midnapore and Jhargram districts. Heavy to very heavy rain in East Midnapore, South 24-Parganas, North 24-Parganas, Calcutta, Howrah, Hooghly, Purulia and Bankura districts of West Bengal.