The tropical storm 'REMAL'' continued tracking northward with a speed of about 14km per hour. The cyclone is centered around 21 degree North and 89 degree East at 5.30 p.m today. It is about 200 km south of Kolkata. It will continue on same track and head for landfall close to Indo-Bangladesh border.
The cyclone remains in a favorable environmental conditions. It is passing over very warm waters and encountering weak vertical wind shear. It may strengthen marginally before the landfall. However, proximity of approaching landmass may weaken it slightly, because of entrainment of dry air and frictional effect. Still, the surface winds at the time of landfall will be in excess of 100 kmh and gusting to 120-130 kmh.
Sagar Island, Sunderban Delta and coastline of Gangetic West Bengal remains vulnerable to hazardous weather conditions. Combination of gale speed winds and torrential rains carry catastrophic potential. REMAL will cross as severe cyclone and maintain storm intensity for over 6 hours after making landfall. Capital city Kolkata, Hooghly, Howrah, Midnapore, North and South 24 Pargana fall within the firing range of storm. Rains and strong winds have already commenced and likely to intensify as the storm approaches for landfall. Adopt all precautions and observe utmost safety measures.