01 May 2019 | 09:33 AM UTC
India/Bangladesh: Fani to skirt along coast before landfall near Kolkata May 4 /update 3
Cyclone Fani is forecast to move alongside the Andhra Pradesh, Odisha coast before making landfall near Kolkata (West Bengal state) on May 4; wind damage, flooding, and transportation and power disruptions likely in India and Bangladesh
Event
Tropical Cyclone Fani continues to strengthen and is forecast to move up the coast of India before making landfall on Saturday, May 4. As of 14:30 (local time) on Wednesday, May 1, the storm is expected to track close to the coast of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha states until it makes landfall near Kolkata (West Bengal state) on Saturday. By remaining predominately over the Bay of Bengal in the coming days, Fani will not lose much strength while continuing to bring strong winds, high surf, and heavy rains to the eastern coast of India. Wind damage to infrastructure, road closures, inland and coastal flooding, and associated damage and disruptions, including power and telecommunication outages and flight cancelations, are expected for the region.
The Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal will experience the worst of Fani, though its effects will likely be felt in Jharkhand, Bihar, Sikkim, and the Seven Sisters of northeastern India (Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh states). In Bangladesh, the storm will be at tropical storm-strength when it passes over the country. Khulna and Barisal divisions will experience the worst of the wind and rain, though flooding is possible along rivers and the coast, including Chittagong and Cox's Bazar (Chittagong division). Western Myanmar, including Rakhine and Chin states, may also receive heavy rain and high storm surges.
As of 14:30 on Wednesday, Fani is producing sustained winds of 195 kph (120 mph) with gusts of 240 kph (150 mph). It is expected to strengthen slightly before landfall on May 4 and is forecast to be have sustained winds of 102 kph (63 mph) when the eye passes over Kolkata.
Advice
Individuals in the abovementioned areas are advised to monitor local weather reports, avoid oceangoing activities, anticipate severe weather, including heavy rain, damaging winds, and possible flooding, and associated disruptions to power, telecommunications, and transportation, and adhere to instructions issued by local authorities.
