Bay of Bengal System Likely to Become Cyclone Akvan by 16 November, Says IMD

The weather system over the Bay of Bengal is expected to strengthen into a cyclonic storm by the evening of 16 November, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said. If it does, it will be named Akvan, a name put forward by Iran, India TV News reported.

Where it is now

In its 5:30 am bulletin on Saturday, the IMD placed a well-marked low-pressure area over the south-eastern Bay of Bengal. The system is forecast to deepen into a deep depression and then a cyclonic storm over the central Bay of Bengal while moving north-northwest.

Winds and sea conditions

According to the report, winds of up to 60 kmph are possible in affected areas, rising to around 80 kmph from 17 November and staying near that level for the two days after. Rough seas are expected over the Andaman Sea, around the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and across large parts of the Bay of Bengal. The report did not name states for rain warnings or give a landfall forecast.

Advice for fishermen

Fishermen have been told to return to the coast by 15 November and to stay off the sea during this period.

Islands say they are ready

Andaman and Nicobar Lieutenant Governor Dinesh Sharma said the administration was prepared, with its disaster management force ready and the Navy, Air Force and Army on high alert. He said there was “no need to worry”.

This is the third such system in the Bay of Bengal in recent weeks, after Cyclone Arnab, which crossed the coast near Narasapur on 28 October, and Cyclone Murasu, which made landfall near Ongole on 3 November.

Featured image: Tropical Cyclone Fani Churns Through the Bay of Bengal (NESDIS 2019-04-30) by NOAA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sources

• India TV News — After Arnab and Murasu, Cyclone Akvan approaches Bay of Bengal