Cyclone Yaas

A low-pressure area formed over the North Andaman Sea and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal around May 22, 2021, and has further intensified into a severe cyclonic storm, named ‘Cyclone Yaas’.

Given below are the key facts about Cyclone Yaas important for the upcoming IAS Exam:

In May 2021, another cyclonic storm named ‘Cyclone Tauktae’ had affected the Indian states of Kerala, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka, along with two Union Territories: Daman & Diu and Lakshadweep. Read about this cyclonic storm at the linked article. 

Cyclone Yaas [UPSC Notes]:-Download PDF Here

Cyclone Yaas – Key Facts

Cyclone Yaas – Track of Cyclonic Storm

• The cyclone is expected to make landfall somewhere between Paradip (Orisha) and Sagar islands (West Bengal) on the evening of May 26, 2021
• It has originated from the East-central Bay of Bengal
• The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued rainfall warning in the following regions:
  • North Coastal Andhra Pradesh
  • Odisha
  • West Bengal and Sikkim
  • Jharkhand
  • Bihar
  • Assam and Meghalaya
• 2021 is the fourth consecutive year that Odisha is being hit by a cyclone
• As per IMD, squally wind speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph expected over north interior districts of Odisha, interior districts of Gangetic West Bengal between May 26th and 27th, 2021

Preparedness for Cyclones Yaas

• 46 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been positioned for relief and rescue operations in various coastal Indian states and Union Territories including, Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry
• The Indian armed forces have been put on alert, several warships and aircraft have been set on standby for relief and rescue operations
• A warning has been issued for rainfall, wind and high tides by IMD to all the areas expected to be affected by the cyclone
• Fishermen were advised not to venture into the southeast Bay of Bengal and the South Andaman Sea from May 21 onwards
• Forecast track and intensity of Cyclone Yaas, as released by IMD are given in the following table (as of May 24, 2021):

SCATSAT 1 – Scatterometer Satellite-1 or SCATSAT-1 was launched in 2016 and was developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for weather forecasting, cyclone prediction, and tracking services for India. Read on to know more about this satellite at the linked article. 

Bay of Bengal and Cyclone Yaas

Bay of Bengal sees approximately five times as many cyclones in comparison to the Arabian Sea. In addition, cyclones in the Bay are stronger and deadlier. 

The Bay of Bengal is constantly fed by fresh water through giant rivers like the Ganga and the Brahmaputra. The river water that empties into the Bay warms up at the surface and rises up as moisture. 

This makes it difficult for the warm layers of water to mix properly with the cooler layers of water below, keeping the surface always warm and ready to feed any potential cyclone over it. Cyclone Yaas is an outcome of the same process and had originated in the Eastcentral Bay of Bengal. 

For upcoming prelims examination, revise previous year Topic-wise UPSC Prelims Questions compiled in the linked article.

Cyclone Yaas [UPSC Notes]:-Download PDF Here

Candidates looking forward to applying for the civil services exam can refer to the detailed UPSC Syllabus for the prelims and mains examination and accordingly start their preparation. 

For the latest exam updates, study material and preparation tips, visit BYJU’S.