Cyclone Remal, a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal that has intensified into a cyclonic storm, is expected to turn severe before making landfall between the coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh on Sunday night, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported on Sunday morning.
According to the IMD, Cyclone Remal is forecast to significantly impact West Bengal, coastal Bangladesh, Tripura, and several other northeastern states with heavy rainfall and strong winds.
The cyclone’s formation began with a low-pressure system over the southwest and west-central Bay of Bengal.
The weather department in Agartala has issued ‘orange’ alerts for Tripura from 26 to 28 May, warning of thunderstorms with lightning and squally winds reaching speeds of 50-60 kmph, gusting to 70 kmph, along with heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across all districts of the state.
According to the latest forecast, heavy downpours are expected to drench the entire region for at least the next three days, beginning Sunday.
The IMD’s regional office in Guwahati has issued an Orange Alert, warning of heavy to very heavy rains accompanied by gusty winds reaching speeds of 30 to 50 km/h. This alert covers Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram. In contrast, Arunachal Pradesh has been placed under a Yellow Alert.
Looking ahead, the IMD has escalated its warnings for 27 May, placing Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura, and Mizoram under a Red Alert. These areas are expected to experience extremely heavy rainfall, with wind speeds potentially reaching up to 60 km/h. The forecast for 28 May reverts to an Orange Alert for all seven northeastern states, indicating continued heavy rainfall.
Residents in the affected areas have been advised to take necessary precautions and stay informed about further updates from the IMD. The impending weather conditions are likely to cause disruptions.