The super cyclonic storm ‘Amphan’ to hit Northeastern states like Assam, Meghalaya and Sikkim on May 21, 2020, warned India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday.
In a fresh warning, the IMD said the super cyclonic storm ‘Amphan’ (pronounced as UM-PUN) over Westcentral and adjoining Eastcentral Bay of Bengal moved nearly north-northeastwards with a speed of 14 kmph during the past six hours.
‘Amphan’ lay centred at 11.30 IST on May 19, 2020 as an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm near latitude 16.5°N and longitude 86.9°E over Westcentral Bay of Bengal about 420 km nearly south of Paradip (Odisha), 570 km south-southwest of Digha (West Bengal) and 700 km south-southwest of Khepupara in Bangladesh, IMD stated.
“It is very likely to move north-northeastwards across northwest Bay of Bengal and cross West Bengal – Bangladesh coasts between Digha (West Bengal) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) close to Sundarbans during Afternoon to Evening hours of 20th May 2020 with maximum sustained wind speed of 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph,” the IMD said in a statement.
IMD warned light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places over Malda and Dinajpur districts in West Bengal on May 20.
According to the warning, there will be heavy to very heavy falls over most of the districts of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim on May 21, 2020.
IMD said there will be light to moderate rainfall in most of the places in Assam and Meghalaya while heavy to very heavy falls to affect a few places over the western districts of Assam and Meghalaya on May 21.
