Cyclone to form over Bay of Bengal around weekend

A low-pressure area over the South Andaman Sea was likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a depression over the Southwest Bay of BengalBengalBengal around Thursday and thereafter into cyclonic storm Michaung over Southwest and adjoining Southeast Bay of Bengal during the subsequent 48 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said. Some models are indicating that the cyclone may move towards the Andhra Pradesh coast even though there is no consensus on it yet.

The cyclone is expected to intensify because the Central Bay of Bengal has above normal temperatures. (AP/Representative)

“The cyclone is expected to intensify because the central Bay of Bengal has above normal temperatures and wind shear is low which also makes conditions favourable. There is no consensus among model results yet as to which direction the cyclone will move. It has the potential to intensify to a severe cyclone,” said an IMD official. Michaung was expected to change the wind direction over north India.