STH storm watch :- The first depression of 2011 in the Bay of Bengal

One of the primary roles of STH is to maintain a close watch (using the Internet and SMS) on all the adverse weather developments in the Bay of Bengal. Today, the first depression of the season (2011) formed.
An excerpt from the IMD Cyclone website is placed as under :-

Excerpt from the Cyclone warning page of IMD website

Sub: Deep Depression crossed West Bengal coast. 

The depression  over north Bay of Bengal off West Bengal & Bangladesh coast moved northward, intensified into a deep depression and crossed West Bengal coast near about 100 km east of Sagar Island between 1630-1730 hours IST. The deep depression lay centred  at 1730 hrs IST of today, the 16^th June 2011, over Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh near lat. 22.0⁰ N and long. 89.0⁰ E, about 100 km east-northeast of Sagar Island, 100 km southeast of Kolkata and 130 km west of Khepupara (Bangladesh).  The system is likely to move north-northwestwards initially and then west-northwestwards and weaken gradually  into a depression during next 24 hours.
       Under its influence, rain/thundershower at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places would occur over north Orissa, Jharkhand and coastal districts of West Bengal during next 48 hours. Isolated extremely heavy falls (25 cm) would also occur over north Orissa during the same period. Rainfall at most places with isolated heavy to very heavy falls would occur over south Orissa, Chhattisgarh and remaining parts of Gangetic West Bengal during next 48 hours.
       Squally winds with speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph would occur along and off north Orissa and West Bengal coasts during next 12 hours. Sea condition will be rough to very rough along and off these coasts. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the Sea off these coasts during next 12 hours.      
     The system is under constant watch and concerned state Govts are being informed accordingly.

The Infra-Red (IR)satellite image of the area  is placed below

 Praful Rao

STH Stormwatch : Tracking the depression (14Oct2010)

Excerpt from the India Meteorological Dept  "Midday" weather report of 14Oct2010
The depression over east central and adjoining northwest and west central Bay of Bengal remained practically stationary and lay centred at 0830 hours IST of today over the same area near lat. 18.0 °N and long. 88.5 °E, about 550 km east of Visakhapatnam, 430 km southeast of Gopalpur and 400 km south-southeast of Digha. It is likely to intensify further into a deep depression and move west-northwestward and cross Orissa coast between Gopalpur and Paradip by 15th October evening.

Praful Rao

STH Stormwatch : A Depression in the Bay of Bengal 13Oct2010

Major Feature of Weather Forecast (upto 1730 hours IST of 16th October, 2010)
♦ Fairly widespread rain/thundershowers would occur over Orissa, West Bengal & Sikkim, northeastern States and Andaman & Nicobar

STH is monitoring the progress of this storm as a part of early warning to vulnerable communities

Praful Rao