Another Cyclonic Storm ‘Michaung’ brewing over BoB

Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a weather forecast indicating the potential formation of a cyclonic storm named ‘Michaung’ over the southwest Bay of Bengal by December 1.

Attributing the formation to a cyclonic circulation over the South Andaman Sea and adjoining South Thailand, a low-pressure area emerged over the South Andaman Sea and the adjoining Malacca Strait. The IMD anticipates its west-northwest movement, intensifying into a depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal around November 29. Subsequently, the system is forecasted to shift northwestward, further intensifying into a cyclonic storm over the southeast Bay of Bengal within the next 48 hours.

The IMD’s Global Forecast System (GFS) suggests that the low-pressure area may potentially cross the Andhra Pradesh-South Odisha coasts on December 5, assuming the form of a very severe cyclonic storm.

The IMD outlines the likelihood of a depression formation over the South Bay of Bengal during November 29-30. Predictions include its progression into a cyclonic storm and a subsequent northeastward recurvature. However, the specific location, timing of formation, and the point of recurvature remain subject to variation.

Named by Myanmar, Cyclone ‘Michaung’ would mark the sixth cyclone in the Indian Ocean this year and the fourth in the Bay of Bengal.