Amphan’ likely to turn into super cyclone, says govt; will hit Bengal coast

The Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘AMPHAN’ (pronounced as UM-PUN) over west-central and adjoining central parts of South Bay of Bengal moved north-northwestwards with a speed of 8 kmph during past 06 hours and lay centred at 0830 hrs IST of today, the 18th May, 2020 over west-central and adjoining central parts of South Bay of Bengal near latitude 13.3°N and longitude 86.3°E, about 780 km nearly south of Paradip (Odisha), 930 km southsouthwest of Digha (West Bengal) and 1050 km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh). It is very likely to intensify further into a Super Cyclonic Storm during next 6 hours. It is very likely to move nearly northwards for some time and then north-northeastwards across northwest Bay of Bengal and cross West Bengal – Bangladesh coasts between Digha (West Bengal) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) during the Afternoon / Evening of 20th May 2020 as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph.