Several states brace for heavy rainfall as cyclone ‘Hamoon’ intensifies

Cyclonic storm ‘Hamoon’ has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the Northwest Bay of Bengal, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday.

The weather forecasting agency reported that cyclone ‘Hamoon’ is highly likely to continue moving in a nearly north-northeastward direction.

Current forecasts suggest that the storm is set to make landfall on the Bangladesh coast between Khepupara and Chittagong around noon on October 25, 2023, as a deep depression.

The severe cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal is likely to trigger light to moderate rainfall at most places in the northeastern states of Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, and Meghalaya, as well as south Assam. Heavy rainfall is expected in Mizoram on October 24, with even heavier downpours anticipated in Tripura. The risk of heavy rain will persist in these regions on October 25, but the intensity is projected to decrease by October 26, with light to moderate rainfall at a few places.

South Assam and eastern Meghalaya are also expected to experience light to moderate rainfall on October 24-25, with the possibility of isolated heavy rainfall in south Assam.

The coastal districts of Odisha are not exempt from Hamoon’s influence, as light to moderate rainfall is anticipated at most places on October 24.

Similarly, the coastal districts of West Bengal should be prepared for weather disturbances. The Met Department has forecasted light to moderate rainfall at most places on October 24, with isolated heavy rainfall over coastal areas of West Bengal.

Cyclonic Storm Hamoon is also generating strong winds across the Bay of Bengal and various regions of Eastern India.

Squally winds with speeds ranging from 40-50 kmph, gusting to 60 kmph, are expected until October 24 along and off the Odisha coast. These winds will commence along and off the West Bengal, Bangladesh, and North Myanmar coasts from the morning of October 24. They are likely to gradually increase, becoming 55-65 kmph, gusting to 75 kmph along and off the Bangladesh coast, 50-60 kmph, gusting to 70 kmph along and off the North Myanmar coast, and 45-55 kmph, gusting to 65 kmph along and off the West Bengal coast on October 25th.

On October 25, squally winds with speeds ranging from 40-50 kmph, gusting to 60 kmph, are likely to prevail over Mizoram and Tripura. Strong winds with speeds of 30-40 kmph, gusting to 50 kmph, are expected over South Assam and Manipur on the same day.