Cyclone Midhili: IMD issues heavy rain alert for West Bengal, Odisha

The deep depression over Bay of Bengal has intensified into cyclonic storm ‘Midhili’ and is moving towards the coast of Bangladesh at a speed of 17 kmph, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD). The cyclonic storm is expected to cross Bangladesh coast close to Khepupara with wind speed of 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph during the night of November 17 and early hours of November 18, according to the weather agency.

The weather forecaster predicted light to moderate rainfall in many places across coastal West Bengal and Odisha as it grazes past the Sunderbans, with isolated heavy rain in some areas on Friday due to the impact of the cyclonic storm.

“CS Midhili over Northwest and adjoining Northeast BoB lay about 250 km ENE of Paradip, 180 km ESE of Digha and 180km SW of Khepupara. Likely to move N NE and cross Bangladesh coast close to Khepupara with wind speed of 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph during night of 17th Nov, 2023,” IMD tweeted.

In view of worsening weather, IMD advised the fishermen to not venture into the sea till Saturday to avoid rough sea conditions.

Odisha's Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) has put all the District Collectors on alert in the wake of the cyclone in the Bay of Bengal. "We do not want to take any chance and therefore put the state machinery on alert for any eventuality," Satyabrata Sahoo said.

The cyclonic storm is expected to continue moving towards the north or northeast direction and it will make a landfall between Mongla and Khepupara areas of the neighbouring country by Friday night or early Saturday morning.

The cyclonic storm has been named as ‘Midhili’, as per the name proposed by Maldives. The names to the cyclones are assigned in a sequence by countries that are affected by them in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.

According to IMD Scientist Uma Shankar Das, there will be no direct impact on Odisha as the cyclonic storm is moving towards the Bangladesh coast, reported PTI.

The weather agency also predicted light to moderate rainfall in several states, including the isolated heavy rain in parts of Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura, on Friday and Saturday. Besides these states, it is expected that heavy rainfall might also occur in south Assam and east Meghalaya on Friday and Saturday.

Meanwhile, Mizoram government on Friday sounded an alert following heavy rain in the northeastern state. Mizoram shares a 318-km-long border with Bangladesh.

According to IMD forecast, Tamil Nadu is also likely to witness light to moderate rainfall at some places with isolated heavy rainfall till November 20.

Midhili is going to be the third cyclone in the northern part of Bay of Bengal following Tej and Hamoon in the last one month. Also, this is the second deep depression during this season.