‘Yaas’ intensifies, will land as ‘Very Severe Cyclonic Storm’ on May 26 noon

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, May 24

The latest update from the IMD is that ‘Yaas’ (pronounced ‘Yass’) will turn into a ‘Very Severe Cyclonic Storm’ by tomorrow and cross the north Odisha-West Bengal coasts between Paradip and Sagar islands around the noon of May 26.

Yesterday’s ‘Depression’ over the east-central Bay of Bengal intensified into a ‘Deep Depression’ over the same region last midnight (2330 hrs May 23).

Thereafter, it moved slowly north-north-westwards and intensified into the ‘Cyclonic Storm’ ‘Yaas’ over east-central BoB early morning (0530 hrs) today (May 24).

Notably, it is only after the system takes the shape of a cyclone that its assigned name kicks in.   

Henceforth, ‘Yaas’ is very likely to move north-north-westwards, intensify further into a ‘Severe Cyclonic Storm’ and subsequently a ‘Very Severe Cyclonic Storm’.

It will continue to move in the direction and reach the northwest Bay of Bengal near north Odisha and West Bengal coasts by May 26 early morning.

Tidal waves of height 2-4 metres above astronomical tide are likely to inundate low lying coastal areas of Jhargram, South 24 Parganas, Medinipur, Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts around the time of landfall, the IMD said.

The intensification and likely movement of the system is under continuous surveillance and concerned state governments are being informed regularly, it added.