Cyclone Shakti Threatens Odisha, Bengal as Southwest Monsoon Arrives Early: IMD confirms

Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) officially confirmed the onset of the southwest monsoon on Tuesday, marking an early start to India's annual rainy season. Meteorologists have observed the monsoon's progress over the south Bay of Bengal, Nicobar Islands, south Andaman Sea, and portions of the north Andaman Sea.

Join the Whatsapp Channel to Get News updates in english

This early monsoon development coincides with warnings of a new cyclonic system. According to IMD forecasts, Cyclone Shakti is expected to form over the Bay of Bengal between May 23-28, potentially affecting coastal regions of Odisha, West Bengal, and neighboring Bangladesh.

The converging weather patterns have put disaster management authorities on high alert, particularly in Odisha, which has experienced several devastating cyclones in recent decades.

Odisha's vulnerability to cyclonic storms is well-documented. The state was ravaged by the Super Cyclone of 1999, which claimed over 10,000 lives and left millions homeless. More recently, Cyclone Fani in May 2019 affected approximately 16 million people and caused damages estimated at $1.5 billion. Cyclone Yaas in 2021 similarly brought extensive flooding and destruction to coastal communities.

West Bengal authorities have also begun mobilizing emergency response teams, particularly in vulnerable districts including East Midnapore, South 24 Parganas, and North 24 Parganas.

Meteorologists note that the Bay of Bengal typically experiences increased cyclonic activity during the pre-monsoon (April-May) and post-monsoon (October-November) periods when sea surface temperatures are conducive to storm formation.

Climate scientists have observed increasing cyclone intensity in recent years, attributed partly to rising sea surface temperatures linked to climate change. The Bay of Bengal has recorded multiple severe cyclonic storms in the past decade, with growing concerns about their impact on vulnerable coastal populations.