Cyclone Amphan Updated | UPSC

• A low-pressure area over south-east Bay of Bengal and the south Andaman sea — formed on May 13, 2020 morning — may result in the subsequent formation of a cyclone by May 16 evening, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
• The low-pressure area is likely to move towards central parts of south Bay of Bengal and intensify into a depression by May 15.
• The cyclone will likely initially move in the north-western direction and then curve towards the north-east.
• IMD has not given any information about a possible landfall of the cyclone in India or anywhere else yet.
• This is the second low-pressure area to form in the region in the past two weeks.
• The intensification of the low-pressure area was delayed and eventually fizzled out, starting from May 6. This was because of a strong vertical shear — the change in winds from the surface to the upper atmosphere that suppress cyclones — according to IMD.

SUPER CYCLONE :

WHY SUPER CYCLONE? 

• The cyclone AMPHAN intensified into a Super Cyclone around noon today, the 18^th May, 2020.

OTHER SUPER CYCLONES :

• The other two super cyclones were Cyclone Kyarr in 2019 and Cyclone Gonu in 2007.
• Cyclone Amphan may bring sea water around 25 kilometres inland because of a storm surge of four to six metres.

HOW THEY MEASURE ?

• Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) at Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) is used to track speed of the cyclone Amphan.

LANDFALL ?

• It is expected to cross West Bengal–Bangladesh coasts between Digha(West Bengal) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) close to Sundarbans during afternoon/evening of 20^th May 2020.
• It will hit land as an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm with wind speed of 165-175 kmph gusting to 195 kmph.
• It will cause heavy to extremely heavy rainfall over Gangetic West Bengal and heavy to very heavy rainfall over north coastal Odisha on 19^th and 20th.
• Storm surge of about 4-6 meters above astronomical tide is likely to inundate low lying areas of south & north 24 Parganas and about 3-4 meters over the low lying areas of East Medinipur districtofWest Bengalduring the time of landfall.
• This cyclone has extensive damaging potential. It will cause extensive large scale damage.

DAMAGE AND DESTRUCTION :

(i)    Damage expected over West Bengal (east Medinipur, south & north 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hoogli, Kolkata districts) and action suggested

• Extensive damage to all types of kutcha houses, some damage to old badly managed Pucca structures. Potential threat from flying objects.
• Extensive uprooting of communication and power poles. Disruption of rail/road link.
• Extensive damage to standing crops, plantations, orchards.Blowing down of Palm&coconut trees.
• Uprooting of large bushy trees. Large boats and ships may get torn from their moorings.

FISHERMEN WARNING & ACTION SUGGESTED:

• Total suspension of fishing operations during 18th to 20th May 2020.
• Diversion or suspension of rail and road traffic.
• People in affected areas to remain indoors. Mobilise evacuation from Low lying areas.
• Movement in motor boats and small ships not advisable.

(ii)   Damage expected over Odisha (Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Jajpur & Mayurbhanj)

• Total destruction of thatched houses/ extensive damage to kutcha houses. Potential threat from flying objects. Bending/ uprooting of power and communication poles.
• Major damage to Kutcha and Pucca roads. Minor disruption of railways, overhead power lines and signalling systems.
• Widespread damage to standing crops, plantations, orchards, falling of green coconuts and tearing of palm fronds. Blowing down of bushy trees like mango.
• Small boats, country crafts may get detached from moorings.

FISHERMEN WARNING & ACTION SUGGESTED:

· Total suspension of fishing operations during 18th to 20th May 2020.

· Diversion or suspension of rail and road traffic.

· People in affected areas to remain indoors.

· Movement in motor boats and small ships not advisable.