Cyclone Shakti likely to form over Bay of Bengal next week; Odisha, WB at possible risk

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday confirmed the onset of the southwest monsoon, with its early progress over the south Bay of Bengal, Nicobar Islands, south Andaman Sea, and parts of the north Andaman Sea, marking the formal beginning of India's annual rainy season.

Cyclone threat looms as low-pressure forms

Simultaneously, weather systems developing in the Bay of Bengal have drawn attention, with meteorological indicators pointing towards a possible cyclone formation.

A low-pressure area is expected to form near the east-central Bay of Bengal between May 16 and 22, possibly intensifying into a cyclone between May 23 and 28. Though the IMD has not officially declared the formation of a cyclone, forecasts suggest that if it materialises, the system may be named Cyclone Shakti.

Preliminary projections indicate that coastal regions of Odisha and West Bengal in India, along with Khulna and Chattogram in Bangladesh, could be impacted, should the cyclone take shape. The cyclone’s exact path and intensity, however, remain uncertain at this stage.

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Cyclonic circulations intensify across India

Upper air cyclonic circulations are currently present over the Andaman Sea, ranging from 1.5 km to 7.6 km above sea level.

Other circulations are active over northwest Uttar Pradesh, West Rajasthan, and Northeast Assam, which may bring rainfall and thunderstorms in parts of northern and eastern India.

Weather alerts and regional forecasts

In response to anticipated pre-monsoon activity, the IMD has issued a yellow alert for Karnataka, cautioning residents about continued rainfall until May 16.

Kolkata may experience partly cloudy skies, with chances of thunderstorms and moderate rain in the evenings through the week, said the weather department.

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Rainfall is also forecast in Himachal Pradesh (May 16–17), Delhi, East Rajasthan, Haryana, and parts of central and western India, including Gujarat, Konkan & Goa, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh. The northeast, particularly Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Meghalaya, could see heavy to very heavy rainfall through mid-May.

Update: OTV reached out to IMD regarding the possibilities of Cyclone Shakti impacting Odisha. In response, the weather department clarified that as of the latest reports, there is no cyclone threat to Odisha.