Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Another cyclonic storm named ‘Yaas’ is coming towards the Bay of Bengal within days during the raging second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic.
As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a low-pressure area is likely to form over the North Andaman Sea and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal around May 22. The depression will likely intensify into a cyclone and move northwestwards, entering West Bengal and Odisha on May 26.
Almost all the models estimate the central pressure of the system to fall to around 970 millibars – which means the likely cyclone, will have the intensity of Cyclone Titli in 2018. As per the estimated central pressure and wind speed by all models, it seems certain that the developing Cyclone Yaas will be in the category of the very severe cyclonic storm (VSCS).
According to the information from the department it is estimated that the wind speed will remain in the range of 140-150kmph with the gusting speed touching around 195kmph. The entire coastal stretch of Odisha from Puri to Balasore will witness heavy rain along with a windy day from nearly 24 hours before the landfall.
Till now it is unknown regarding the intensify of the storm but the IMD had already asked the fisherman who is out in the sea to return to safer places by May 23. The around-the-clock control room has been made operational at the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) office in Bhubaneswar.
Kamal Lochan Mishra, executive director of OSDMA and additional commissioner of relief, the Government of Odisha, stated that the district officials in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara are on high alert. District collectors have been told to take all necessary measures to deal with the situation.
Over 800 flood and cyclone shelters in the coastal pockets have been readied to house people from seaside villages. Additionally, schools, colleges and government office buildings, which are lying vacant, will also be used as shelters for evacuees when relief operations need to be ramped up.
All the treatment centres are kept separate from the disaster relief shelters. The authorities have directed the district collectors to maintain social distancing norms at every shelter while masks and sanitisers will be provided to the evacuees in all the shelters.
At present, the sea surface temperatures are around 31 degrees Celsius (°C) over the Bay of Bengal. The sea surface temperature is above normal by 1-2°C, both over the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal making conditions favourable for the development of a cyclone.
As per the report the department has stated that the cyclone “Yaas” is most likely a result of climate change and global warming which is due to natural causes that could have a profound effect on cyclone tracks.
Image Source – Google
