East coast may see formation of cyclone; likely to hit WB, Odisha coast by May 27

New Delhi: A cyclone is likely to form over the Bay of Bengal and expected to hit the eastern coast on May 27, a top official of the Ministry of Earth Science said on Wednesday.

M Rajeevan, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, said a cyclone circulation is expected to form over the Bay of Bengal on May 23.

“It is likely that it will intensify into a cyclone and hit the West Bengal and Odisha coast,” Rajeevan said.

It may not be as severe as cyclone Tauktae, which intensified into an extremely severe cyclonic storm.

April-May, the pre-monsoon months, usually witness formation of cyclones on the eastern as well as the western coast.

May 2020 saw two cyclones — super cyclonic storm Amphan and severe cyclonic storm Nisarga — which hit the eastern and western coast, respectively.