Cyclone Gulab

Cyclone Gulab is a deep depression formed in the Bay of Bengal that intensified into a cyclonic storm.  The system hit the landmass between Kalingapatanam in Andhra Pradesh and Gopalpur in Odisha.

India Meteorological Department said cyclone Gulab began its landfall process on 26-09-2021. Heavy rains lashed parts of Andhra Pradesh. Telangana is on high alert as the cyclone passes.

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About Cyclone Gulab

• A new depression has formed over the east-central Bay of Bengal which intensified into cyclone Gulab.
• The cyclone affected the coasts of south Odisha north Andhra Pradesh. It made landfall triggering heavy rains along with strong winds over north coastal Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south coastal Odisha. 
• It comes under the category of the cyclonic storm according to IMD.
• Being a monsoon system, it naturally holds excess moisture compared to storms of pre-monsoon and post-monsoon periods. 
• A couple of unique meteorological factors are also helping the system intensify and retain moisture.
• Because of weak to moderate negative Indian Ocean Dipole (-IOD), the equatorial Rossby waves (natural planetary waves) could have transferred a substantial amount of energy (moisture) to this system.

Some facts about Cyclone Gulab

Some Related Links

Recent Cyclones in the Indian ocean

Classification of cyclones

Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), classified the low-pressure systems in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea on the basis of maximum sustained wind speed.

Based on the above classification, Cyclone Gulab comes under the category of Cyclonic storm

Read about Cyclone Disaster Management in the linked article.

Role of IMD 

• Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) is the Indian agency to monitor the development of tropical cyclones in its area of responsibility.
• It provides advisory information to ICAO, DGCA, Meteorological Watch offices in the country and neighbouring countries as well.
• It gives warnings regarding rainfall, wind speeds, sea conditions, fisherman alerts, and impacts of cyclones.
• It has issued a ‘Red’ alert indicating heavy to very heavy rainfall (64.5mm to 204.4mm in 24 hours) over coastal Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Vidarbha in Maharashtra.
• Warnings of IMD
• • Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy & extremely heavy falls at isolated places very likely over south Chhattisgarh; heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places over Odisha, Telangana & Vidarbha and heavy rainfall at isolated places over coastal West Bengal & North Chattisgarh.
  • Sea condition will be ‘high’ over Northwest and adjoining Westcentral Bay of Bengal and along and off Odisha, West Bengal and North Andhra Pradesh
  • A tidal wave of about 0.5 m height above the astronomical tide is likely to inundate low lying areas of Srikakulam, Sompeta, Vizianagaram, Ganjam districts during the time of landfall.
  • The fishermen are advised not to venture into the northwest & adjoining the west-central Bay of Bengal and along & off Odisha, West Bengal & North Andhra Pradesh coasts.

• Actions suggested by  IMD 
  • Avoid staying in a vulnerable structure
  • Avoid going to areas that face water logging problems often.
  • Check for traffic congestion in your route before leaving for your destination.
  • Follow traffic advisories issued in this regard
  • Follow IMD warnings for updates.

Cyclone Gulab:-Download PDF Here

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