A depression over the Bay of Bengal is intensifying and expected to develop into Cyclone Remal, the first cyclone of the pre-monsoon season. It is projected to make landfall near the coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh by Saturday as a Severe Cyclonic Storm.

Initially a minor cyclonic circulation, the system has gained significant strength and is now centered over the Central Bay of Bengal, about 800 kilometers from both Bangladesh's Khepupara and West Bengal's Canning.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts that the system will rapidly evolve into a Cyclonic Storm by Saturday morning (May 25). It is expected to make landfall between Sagar Island in West Bengal and Khepupara in Bangladesh around midnight on Sunday (May 26) as a Severe Cyclonic Storm.

Contrary to some models predicting only a moderate storm, Cyclone Remal appears poised to become a major weather event. It is expected to bring heavy to very heavy rains (64.5 mm-115.5 mm) to coastal districts of West Bengal, North Odisha, Mizoram, Tripura, and South Manipur on Sunday and Monday (May 26-27). Thunderstorms and lightning are also forecasted for these regions.

In response to the expected severe weather, the IMD has issued yellow watches (advising to stay updated) for Saturday and orange alerts (advising to be prepared) for Sunday. West Bengal will remain under an orange alert through Monday.

Specific orange alerts have been issued for Kolkata, Howrah, Nadia, Jhargram, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, and Purba Medinipur districts. Residents are advised to avoid coastal areas and stay indoors to stay safe from the severe weather.

Strong winds, with gusts reaching speeds of 100-110 kilometers per hour, are anticipated over the North Bay of Bengal from Sunday for 24 hours. Squally winds and rough seas are expected along the coasts of West Bengal, Odisha, and Bangladesh.

The IMD has issued a strong advisory for fishermen, urging them to stay off the Bay of Bengal until Monday due to the dangerous conditions.

Cyclone Remal’s timing coincides with voting in eight Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal on Saturday. The Election Commission has alerted district administrations to take all necessary precautions at polling stations. The West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer has instructed officials to implement measures to ensure smooth voting despite potential disruptions from the storm.

Residents in the affected areas are advised to stay informed with the latest updates from the IMD and follow instructions from local authorities to ensure safety during Cyclone Remal’s landfall.

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