Cyclone Remal moving towards Bengal can cause havoc, Meteorological Department has issued an alert

The cyclonic storm forming in the Bay of Bengal will hit between Sagar Island of West Bengal and Khepupara of Bangladesh at midnight on Sunday (26 May). The Meteorological Department says that this cyclone will turn into a storm by Saturday morning.

The cyclonic storm forming in the Bay of Bengal will hit between Sagar Island of West Bengal and Khepupara of Bangladesh at midnight on Sunday (26 May). This is the first storm in the Bay of Bengal in the pre-monsoon season. It has been named Remal. The Meteorological Department says that this cyclone will turn into a storm by Saturday morning. By Saturday night, it will intensify further and take the form of a severe cyclonic storm.

IMD says that this storm can cross the coasts of Bangladesh and West Bengal between Sagar Island and Khepupara around midnight on Sunday. During this time its speed can be up to 120 kilometers per hour. At the time of the storm's impact, waves up to 1.5 meters high can rise in the coastal areas of West Bengal and Bangladesh.

Heavy rains in parts of Northeast India

The Meteorological Department has issued a warning of extremely heavy rains in the coastal districts of West Bengal and North Odisha on 26-27 May. North 24 Parganas district may also be flooded. Weak buildings, power lines, unpaved roads and crops may suffer heavy damage. Therefore, buildings have been asked to be evacuated. Heavy rains may occur in some parts of Northeast India on 27-28 May. Fishermen have been advised to return to the coast. Do not go to the Bay of Bengal till 27 May.

What does warming sea surface temperatures mean?

Scientists say that due to the oceans absorbing heat from greenhouse gas emissions, the sea surface temperature is increasing rapidly due to which cyclones are increasing. In the last 30 years, the sea surface temperature has been the highest since records began in 1880. Warmer sea surface temperatures mean more moisture, which is conducive to the intensity of cyclones.

Madhavan Rajeevan (Former Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences) said that for a low pressure to turn into a cyclone, the sea surface temperature should be 27 degrees Celsius and above. The Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea are very warm at this time. This is the reason why a cyclone can easily form.