Cyclone Yaas is likely a “very severe cyclonic storm” and will cross the Odisha and the West Bengal coasts on May 26. As the winds prepare to lash Northern Odisha and West Bengal, NDRF chief S N Pradhan has urged authorities in the two states to adopt an “over-preparing” approach for the impending natural disaster and carry out evacuation even in the least vulnerable places. 

The course, speeds & areas effected

Yaas will make landfall somewhere between Paradwip in Odisha and Sagar in South 24 Parganas on May 26 evening at a speed ranging between 155 km/hr and 165 km/hr. The India Meteorological Department as of 24th May 11:00 AM has the following trajectory prepared for the severe weather event. 

Deep Depression over Eastcentral Bay of Bengal intensified into Cyclonic Storm ‘Yaas’ and about 600 km of Port Blair. To intensify into a Severe Cyclonic Storm during next 24 hours and into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm during subsequent 24 hours. pic.twitter.com/HfREdsMtOL

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 24, 2021

The Cyclone is expected to cause extremely heavy rain is forecast on May 26 and 27 over Murshidabad, Malda, Dakshin Dinajpur, Birbhum, Bankura, Purulia and Bardhaman districts of West Bengal. 

Medinipur, North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly districts of West Bengal have been warned of heavy to very heavy rain on Tuesday and Wednesday. Extremely heavy rain is forecast on May 26 and 27 over Murshidabad, Malda, Dakshin Dinajpur, Birbhum, Bankura, Purulia and Bardhaman districts. 

The Met official cautioned that cyclones in the past deviated from the projected path. Amphan, for example, had been moving north-northwest at the beginning. But it did not travel in a straight path. In the middle of its journey, it started to re-curve and travel in a north-northeast direction towards the Bengal and Bangladesh coasts. 

The system that would turn into Cyclone Yaas was also moving in a north-northwest direction. On Sunday afternoon, it was a deep depression positioned 670km from Digha and 690km from Balasore, said a bulletin issued by IMD Calcutta.

The Met bulletin said the storm was expected to make landfall between Paradip (450km from Calcutta) and Sagar Islands (100km from Calcutta).

What can we do to prepare?

Cyclone Yaas, which may hit the West Bengal coast on May 26, is unlikely to match the intensity & damage of Amphan, which had assumed the shape of a Super Cyclone last year at about the same time. For one, the current predicted path of Yaas is further away from Kolkata, one of the most populous place in the region. 

“Probability is highest that Yaas will hit the West Bengal coast after intensifying into a very severe cyclone. As of now, it is unlikely to match the intensity of Amphan,” said GK Das, director of the IMD’s regional office in Kolkata.

However, here are some of the guidelines for the upcoming cyclone:

• Keep mobile phones and power banks completely charged.
• Fill overhead water tanks, buckets and ensure provision for clean drinking water.
• Have emergency lights, candles & torches at hand along with basic first aid. 
• Switch Off electronic devices such as TVs, Fridge etc during the storm along with securing the gas connection. 
• If the water level rises near the meter box, switch off the mains and contact your electricity provider. 
• Download mobile applications such as Windy (for monitoring cyclone trajectory, download for iOS & Android) and Brigify (for communication without network download for iOS & Android).