Heavy to Very Heavy Rainfall and Squally Winds Forecasted for Andaman & Nicobar Islands from 8th to 12th May

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a weather alert forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by squally winds for Andaman & Nicobar Islands from 8th to 12th May. The warning is issued as a result of a cyclonic circulation observed over the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. According to the IMD, a low-pressure area is likely to form over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining South Andaman Sea on 8th May, which is likely to intensify into a depression around 9th May. The depression may further intensify into a cyclonic storm while moving towards the central Bay of Bengal and adjoining North Andaman Sea.

The IMD has also issued a warning of moderate rainfall at most places during 8th-12th May, with scattered heavy to very heavy rainfall and isolated extremely heavy falls likely over Andaman & Nicobar Islands on 10th and 11th May. The wind speed is expected to reach 40-50 kmph, gusting to 60 kmph over southeast Bay of Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and adjoining Andaman Sea on 7th and 8th May. The wind speed would gradually increase, becoming 50-60 kmph, gusting to 70 kmph over southeast Bay of Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and adjoining Andaman Sea on 9th May. It would further increase, gradually becoming 60-70 kmph, gusting to 80 kmph over southeast and adjoining central Bay of Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Andaman Sea on 10th and 11th May.

The IMD has advised fishermen, small ships, boats, and trawlers not to venture into southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of Andaman Sea from 7th May onwards and into southeast & adjoining central Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea from 9th May onwards. People over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining south Andaman Sea are advised to return to safer places, and those over central Bay of Bengal and north Andaman Sea are advised to return before 9th May. The regulation of tourism, offshore activities, and shipping near Andaman and Nicobar Islands during 8th – 12th May and the regulation of shipping activity over the sea areas of southeast & central Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea during 8th-12th May has also been suggested.