India Meteorological Department (IMD) has advised fishermen not to venture out into the sea off the coasts of north Odisha and West Bengal on May 23 and 24 as there is a likelihood of heavy to very heavy rain with high winds in central parts of the Bay of Bengal. The fishermen who ventured out into the sea from these coasts must return by May 23, Sunanda, Director of the IMD’s Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Centre, told ANI.
“A low-pressure area is likely to form over Southwest Bay of Bengal around May 22, 2024. It is likely to move initially north-eastwards and concentrate into a depression over central parts of Bay of Bengal by morning of May 24, 2024,” she said.
“Weather associated with this system is more in the north Odisha and West Bengal region only. There is a likelihood of light to moderate rain in Andhra Pradesh. Along the coast over the northern part of Odisha and West Bengal, there is a likelihood of heavy to very heavy rain with high wind. So fishermen are advised not to venture out in the sea from these coasts during this period of May 23 to 24,” she added.
She said that the fishermen who ventured out into the sea from these coasts must return by 23rd May. Talking about the monsoon, Sunanda said that conditions are favourable for further movement of the Southwest monsoon, now extended up to the North Andaman Sea and south Bay of Bengal, towards Kerala. Once the monsoon reaches the Kerala coast, within one week to 10 days it will reach the Andhra Pradesh coast, she said. Southwest monsoon made its onset over the Nicobar Islands on Sunday. According to the IMD, the monsoon is expected to reach Kerala by May 31.