Cyclone likely to take shape over Bay of Bengal by next week

A cyclone is likely to take shape over the Bay of Bengal by next week and the southern peninsula, including Kerala, is likely to receive widespread rainfall under its influence. Although the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has not officially declared the formation of the cyclone and its path, the latest weather bulletin issued by the IMD on Thursday confirmed the formation of a depression by November 24.  

An upper air cyclonic circulation lies over the central parts of the Strait of Malacca, extending up to 5.8 km above the mean sea level. Under its influence, a low-pressure area is likely to form over the Southeast Bay of Bengal around November 22. Thereafter, it is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into depression over central parts of the south Bay of Bengal around November 24. Thereafter, it will very likely to continue to move west-northwestwards and intensify further over southwest Bay of Bengal during subsequent 48 hours, the bulletin said.

Various global models are also in consensus on the formation of the cyclone by next week, and its likely track indicates the west coast of the country in the initial days. However, the track of the system and its possible intensification would be clear in the next couple of days.

A yellow alert has been issued for seven districts—Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, and Ernakulam—on Friday, where isolated heavy rain is likely.