Yesterday’s Depression over eastcentral Bay of Bengal (BoB) moved west-north-westwards and intensified into a deep depression over the same region in the midnight (2330 hrs IST of 23rd May).

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday (May 24, 2021) morning said that Cyclone Yaas is going to intensify into a ‘Severe Cyclonic Storm’ in the next 24 hours and issued a rainfall warning for West Bengal and Odisha.

Thereafter, it moved slowly north-north-westwards and intensified into the cyclonic storm “YAAS” over eastcentral BoB in the early morning (0530 hrs IST) of today, the 24th May, 2021.

It lay centred at 0830 hrs IST of today, the 24th May, 2021 over Eastcentral Bay of Bengal near latitude 16.4°N and longitude 89.6°E, about 620 km north-northwest of Port Blair (Andaman Islands), 530 km south-southeast of Paradip (Odisha), 630 km south-southeast of Balasore (Odisha) and 620 km south-southeast of Digha (West Bengal).

It is very likely to move north-north-westwards, intensify further into a Severe Cyclonic Storm during next 12 hours and into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm during subsequent 24 hours.

It would continue to move north-north-westwards, intensify further and reach Northwest Bay of Bengal near north Odisha and West Bengal coasts by 26th May early morning. It is very likely to cross north Odisha-West Bengal coasts between Paradip and Sagar islands around noon of 26th May as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm.