After Nivar, another cyclone brews over Bay of Bengal

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 27

After Nivar, another cyclonic circulation is brewing in the Bay of Bengal due to which extremely heavy rain is expected around December 2 and 3 over South Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, the IMD has said.

Heavy rain expected on Dec 2, 3 in TN, Puducherry

• A low pressure area is likely to form over Southeast Bay of Bengal during the next 36 hours
• It will lead to enhanced rain activity over Peninsular India during December 1 and 3

Its latest update says “a low pressure area is likely to form over Southeast Bay of Bengal during the next 36 hours, around November 29, leading to enhanced rain activity over Peninsular India during December 1 and 3”.

“It will concentrate into a depression during the subsequent 24 hours and likely to intensify further thereafter, move westwards and reach Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts on December 2. Under its influence, heavy-to-very-heavy rain with isolated extremely heavy rain are very likely over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal on December 2 and 3. Sea conditions will be rough to very rough from November 28 onwards in different parts as the system progresses through the Bay,” it added

There has been an increase in the number and intensity of storms over the recent years due to changing climatic conditions. Sea surface temperatures in the Bay of Bengal have been steadily increasing over the last decades, a factor driving rapid intensification. A warmer atmosphere can hold more water, driving extreme rainfall during cyclones, increasing threat of flooding, experts say.

High temperatures are generally conducive for cyclogenesis. There is also a correlation between cooler phase of ENSO, known as La Niña, and increased tropical cyclone activity in the Bay of Bengal. 2020 being a La Niña year (which is also reason for a harsher and longer winter) is another underlying cause behind increased activity.