Heavy rain likely in 4 WB coastal districts

Heavy rain likely in 4 WB coastal districts

Prithvijit.Mitra@timesgroup.com

Kolkata:05.12.2021

Cyclone Jawad lost strength and weakened into a deep depression on Saturday even as it approached the Odisha coast and is set to recurve near Puri on Sunday afternoon and move towards Bengal coast, losing further strength. It may reach Bengal as a low-pressure or a cyclonic circulation on Sunday that will curb its impact a great deal, though heavy rain has still been predicted in some areas of the four coastal districts of the state. Kolkata could receive just light to moderate showers on Sunday.

Three factors led to Jawad losing its strength, said weather experts. First, the lack of a uniform ‘wind shear’ that was needed to keep the cyclone intact and make it move towards the coast. Secondly, north Bay of Bengal — over which the system is now hovering turns cool in December which cuts off the supply of moisture to cyclonic systems, rendering them weaker. Finally, cool winds have been blowing into the sea from the land which is making the system disintegrate.

“A cyclone is a mammoth system which needs to be pushed by a uniform wind speed which is now lacking. Disparate wind currents tend to break the system and leave it weaker, which has happened to Jawad. Due to low temperatures and cool winds, which now prevail over Bay of Bengal, cyclones are rare in December,” said Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) director GK Das.

With Jawad fizzling out as a cyclone, Kolkata is now set to receive just light to moderate rain on Sunday, instead of the very heavy showers that had been earlier predicted.

Full report on www.toi.in