Everything you need to know about
The Bay of Bengal is on high alert for a potential cyclone named ‘Michaung’ If it forms, it would be the fourth in the Bay of Bengal and the sixth in Indian waters this year.
Cyclone Michaung:
The low pressure area that had developed over the southern Andaman Sea and the nearby southeastern Bay of Bengal on Tuesday, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), became a well-defined depression at 8:30 am on Thursday. It is expected to move in a west-northwesterly direction and intensify into a low pressure area over the southeastern Bay of Bengal on November 30.
The IMD report says, “It is expected to shift towards the west-northwest and intensify into a depression over the southeastern Bay of Bengal on November 29. Thereafter, it is likely to move further northwestward and intensify into a cyclonic storm over the southeastern Bay of Bengal during the next 48 hours.”
What is Cyclone Michaung and what does it mean?
The cyclone is expected to reach a maximum wind speed of 60-70 km/h, with gusts of up to 80 km/h. Michaung is named after a Myanmar proposal. It is the sixth cyclone in the Indian Ocean and the fourth in the Bay of Bengal.
The system is expected to move in a west-northwesterly direction across the southeastern Bay of Bengal by November 30, possibly intensifying into a depression. Within the next 48 hours, the system is expected to turn into Cyclone Michaung.
Intensity progression of Cyclone Michaung
According to the IMD Global Forecasting System, the low pressure area approaching the Tamil Nadu coast will intensify into a cyclone over the southwestern Bay of Bengal on or around December 1. Thereafter, it is likely to strengthen, turn back and move north-northwestwards by December 4 and then cross the beaches of south and north Odisha as a very strong cyclone on December 5.
A similar track is shown by another model, with the exception that landfall will occur on December 6. However, the NCUM model predicts a shift to the west-northwest, the formation of a depression by December 4 and the subsequent development of a severe cyclone. Finally, the IMD multi-model ensemble predicts that the depression will form by November 29 and then move northwest and north and intensify into a severe storm.
Impact of Cyclone Michaung
The Andaman Islands will receive light to moderate rainfall with isolated areas of extremely heavy rainfall on November 30.
Irrespective of its movement, the system will cause rough seas and gusty winds in the Bay of Bengal. Therefore, fishermen are strongly advised not to venture into the waters in the coming days.
According to the initial forecasts, mainland India, including Tamil Nadu, coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha will be in the yellow zone on Saturday, December 2. Apart from this, the coastal areas are expected to face rough seas and gusty winds under the influence of Cyclone Michaung. To avoid fatalities, fishermen are advised not to enter the waters in the coming days.
In addition, moderate precipitation with heavy to very heavy rainfall (64.5 mm-204.5 mm) is expected over the Nicobar Islands between Tuesday and Thursday (November 28-30).
To summarise, Cyclone Michuang is the fourth cyclonic storm and the sixth cyclone in the Indian Ocean this year. Seven districts in Odisha, including Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda and Ganjam, have been put on cyclone alert by the Odisha government.
