30 Apr 2019 | 05:43 AM UTC
India/Bangladesh: Cyclone Fani forecast to hit Kolkata May 4 /update 2
Tropical Cyclone Fani to strengthen to Category 4-equivalent storm before arriving over Kolkata (West Bengal state) on May 4; wind damage, flooding, and associated power and transportation disruptions expected along coast
Event
Tropical Cyclone Fani is forecast to strengthen to the equivalent of a Category 4 Atlantic hurricane by Thursday, May 2, as it moves toward Odisha and West Bengal states. Fani is set to move along the coast of Bay of Bengal, bringing severe weather to Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal states in India, as well as much of Bangladesh, beginning Tuesday, April 30. The storm is forecast to skirt the coast of Odisha state on Friday, May 3, and pass over Kolkata (West Bengal state) on Saturday morning (local time), May 4, before moving into Bangladesh and northeastern India. Dangerous surf and high storm surge are expected for the coast of India from Tamil Nadu to West Bengal, Bangladesh (including Chittagong and Cox's Bazar), and the west coast of Myanmar. Damaging winds and heavy rain will be most concentrated in Odisha and West Bengal states and the Bangladeshi divisions of Khulna and Barisal. Heavy rain from the storm may persist after it makes landfall, bringing flood conditions for northern Bangladesh and northeastern India, particularly Assam and Meghalaya states. Power and telecommunication outages are possible and transportation disruptions, including road closures and damage and train and flight disruptions, are expected.
As of 08:30 (local time) on Tuesday, Fani is located 743 km (460 mi) south-southeast of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh state) and is producing sustained winds of 157 kph (98 mph), the equivalent of a Category 2 Atlantic hurricane. It is forecast to peak on May 2 with sustained winds of 213 kph (132 mph) before hitting the coast of Odisha. It will likely pass over Kolkata as a Category 1 hurricane-equivalent with 150 kph (93 mph) winds.
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.
