The deep depression over east central Bay of Bengal remained practically stationary during the past six hours and intensified into cyclonic storm 'Yaas' (pronounced as 'Yass') on Monday.
It is very likely to move slowly north-northwestwards, intensify further into a Severe Cyclonic Storm during next 24 hours and into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm during subsequent 24 hours, said National Weather Forecasting Centre of India Meteorological Department (IMD).
"The cyclone would continue to move north-northwestwards, intensify further and reach Northwest Bay of Bengal near north Odisha and West Bengal coasts by May 26 early morning," the IMD said.
"It is very likely to cross north Odisha-West Bengal coasts between Paradip and Sagar islands around May 26 noon as a very severe cyclonic storm."
"Under the influence of a Western disturbance, thunderstorm and lightning accompanied with isolated to fairly widespread rainfall is likely over Western Himalayan Region and isolated rainfall and thunderstorm over plains of Northwest India during next 24 hours. Isolated dust storm also very likely over Rajasthan during next 24 hours," said the IMD.
Besides, strong surface or dust raising winds (25-35 kmph) is likely over Rajasthan, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi and Uttar Pradesh during next three days.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall warning was made by the IMD at "isolated places over Andaman and Nicobar Islands for May 23 as well as for May 24; over north coastal Odisha on May 25; Gangetic West Bengal on May 25-27 and Jharkhand on May 26 and Bihar on May 27; scattered heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely falls over Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal on May 26 and isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall with extreme falls over Jharkhand on May 27".
The intensity of cyclonic storm Yaas is likely to be similar to that of Cyclone Amphan, which hit the Sunderbans in south Bengal in May 2020, killing over 100 people and causing widespread damage in the region.
IMD had predicted the wind speed of the cyclone to be around 155-165 km per hour, gusting to 185 km per hour.?
India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General of Meteorology Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said, "This is a very large-scale and damaging wind speed. It is almost similar to the wind speed of cyclone Tauktae. Even cyclone Amphan, which made landfall last year, had a similar wind speed."