A tropical cyclone named ‘Shakti’ has formed over the Bay of Bengal, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) operated by the US Navy.
At its 9 am (October 2) Advisory, the JTWC reported that the cyclone’s center was located over the southwestern Bay of Bengal, east of the coast of India’s Andhra Pradesh, and about 700 kilometers southwest of Kolkata.
At its center, maximum sustained wind speeds were recorded at around 65 km/h, with gusts reaching up to 83 km/h.
The JTWC said the storm will make landfall tonight along the coast between Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) continues to classify it as a deep depression, not yet a full cyclone.
Although Cyclone Shakti is not expected to cross Bangladesh, its impact may cause moderate to heavy rainfall in parts of Bangladesh and India’s West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, and Meghalaya states until October 5.
It is noteworthy that the monsoon season is still active. Cyclone Shakti is currently active over Bangladesh and India.
Typically, the Bay of Bengal does not generate full-fledged cyclones before the monsoon withdraws.
Regarding the withdrawal of the monsoon. Hence, the formation of Cyclone Shakti during the ongoing monsoon season is seen as a rare and exceptional phenomenon.
This year, the Bay of Bengal has already witnessed a record number of monsoon-induced lows, depressions, and deep depressions, marking an unusually active season in recent history before the monsoon’s withdrawal.
Therefore, the formation of Cyclone Shakti during the ongoing monsoon season is viewed as a significant event.
Contributor: Tareque Hasan
Photo: Hussain Shetu
