Possible Cyclone Sitrang likely to turn into severe one

The weather system which persisted in the form of low-pressure till Friday over Andaman Sea and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal, is expected to intensify into a severe cyclone (90-100 gusting to 110km per hour) during landfall, models suggest.

Already named as Cyclone Sitrang, the system is likely to develop over the west-central Bay of Bengal on Monday and is likely to skirt the Odisha coast and reach West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts on Tuesday.

Most models are indicating that it will make landfall in Bangladesh as a severe cyclone on Tuesday, reports Hindustan Times. Earlier on Thursday, a low-pressure area formed over the north Andaman Sea and adjoining areas and the southeast Bay, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

It is likely to move west-northwestwards and concentrate into a depression over the southeast and adjoining east-central Bay on Saturday.

The depression will then move north-westwards and intensify further into a deep depression over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay on Sunday. It is likely to recurve gradually northwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm over the west-central and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal by Monday, the IMD said.