Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Yaas May 2021
Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Yaas May 2021
Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Yaas was an incredibly powerful and devastating tropical cyclone that caused significant destruction in the Indian states of West Bengal and Odisha. It was the 2 nd cyclonic storm, 2 nd severe cyclonic storm, and 2 nd very severe cyclonic storm of the North Indian Ocean cyclone season in 2021.
Category: Very Severe Cyclonic Storm
Location: North Indian Ocean
Formed: 23 May, 2021
Dissipated: 28 May, 2021
Highest winds: 3-minute sustained: 85 mph (140 km/h); 1-minute sustained: 75 mph (120 km/h)
Lowest pressure: 970 hPa (mbar); 28.64 inHg
Affected Countries: India, Bangladesh and Nepal
Fatalities: approx. total 20 (across India and Bangladesh)
Damage: approx. $2.84 billion (2021 USD)
Formation and track
Cyclone Yaas originated from a low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal on 22 May 2021. On 23 May, the wind system subsequently strengthened into a deep depression. The following day, the system intensified into a cyclonic storm and subsequently received the name Yaas. On the same day, a little later, as Cyclone Yaas turned to the northeast, it further strengthened and was upgraded to a severe cyclonic storm. On 25 May 2021, the cyclone continued to intensify into a Category 1-equivalent tropical cyclone. Yaas continued to intensify and subsequently reached the status of a very severe cyclonic storm the same day. It reached its peak intensity of 85 mph (140 km/h) in three-minute sustained wind speeds.
On 26 May 2021, at its peak intensity, Cyclone Yaas crossed the northern coast of Odisha, around 20 km south of Balasore, as a very severe cyclonic storm. The same day, at around 09:00 IST, the cyclone made landfall, at the same intensity, towards the north of Dhamra Port and south of Bahanaga. As the cyclone moved inland, it faced increased vertical shear and gradually weakened to a tropical storm. Yaas weakened to a deep depression and ultimately, on 28 May 2021, dissipated in northern India.
Preparations
In India
The Ministry of Telecommunications of India kept all telecom exchanges and towers under watch in view of the approaching cyclone. The Union Power Ministry of India kept generators and transformers on standby to meet power outages. Electrical companies in Odisha and West Bengal stayed on guard to ensure uninterrupted power supply, especially to the important health care centres and crucial establishments like drainage pumping stations. The Health Ministry also made adequate preparations to ensure that there was no disruption in vaccine supplement and COVID- 19 treatment during the ongoing second wave of COVID-19 in the country.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deployed around 115 teams in 5 states. Rescue and relief teams of the Indian Navy, the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Army were deployed over the coastal districts of West Bengal and Odisha. Indian Railways halted train services to and from certain parts of West Bengal and Odisha. Airline operations at airports in Rourkela, Bhubaneswar, Durgapur and Kolkata were suspended due to Cyclone Yaas.
Odisha
On 25 May 2021, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) raised a red alert for Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, and Balasore. The same day, an orange alert was issued for Puri, Jajpur, Cuttack, Mayurbhanj, and Khordha.
West Bengal
Starting on 24 May 2021, people living in the low-lying areas in Jhargram and East and West Midnapore were evacuated and taken to shelter homes. Starting on 25 May, 2021, the Port of Kolkata began to suspend all shipping activities in the city.
Jharkhand
More than 600,000 people were evacuated to disaster shelters due to the approach of the Very Severe Cyclonic Storm.
In other countries
In Sri Lanka
A red alert for strong winds and heavy rain from Cyclone Yaas was issued in Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern and Western provinces of Sri Lanka on 24 May 2021. In Bangladesh
More than 2 million individuals were evacuated in coastal areas of Bangladesh due to the approaching cyclone.
Aftermath
In India
West Bengal
West Bengal was the most heavily impacted Indian state from Cyclone Yaas. Over 4,500 villages were damaged in the cyclone. Before Cyclone Yaas came, a tornado outbreak was reported in the districts of Hooghly and North 24 Paragana.
Cyclone Yaas generated strong storm surge and high waves which crashed the coastal beaches of Mandarmoni and Digha. The concrete embankments in these areas broke and seawater flooded the whole of the Digha—Mandarmoni Belt. The city of Kolkata experienced powerful gusty winds, of around 39 mph (62 km/h) winds, due to the huge wind field of Cyclone Yaas.
Yaas caused damage of around US$2.76 billion (₹20 thousand crore) in West Bengal.
Odisha
In Odisha, around 120 village settlements were flooded and heavily devastated by the torrential rain. The total damages in the state was estimated to be around US$83.63 million (₹610 crore).
Other states
The rainfall from Yaas also extended to Uttar Pradesh. Nearly 10 lakh people were affected, 2 persons died, 18 were injured and 500 homes were damaged in Jharkhand.
In Nepal
Light rainfall was caused in certain areas of Nepal by the remnants of Yaas. Some hikers and climbers at Mount Lhotse and Mount Everest were stranded in high summits.
In Bangladesh
Tidal waves generated by Yaas flooded low-lying areas in Satkhira, Patuakhali, Barguna, Khulna, Jhalokathi, and Noakhali, including some fishing settlements in Sundarbans.
After Yaas moved inland, the Bangladesh portion of the Sundarban areas were inundated with saline seawater, thereby sparking fears of probable damage to the forest ecosystem. Out of the 54 freshwater ponds within the forest, the seawater filled 53 ponds, thereby cutting off the supply of proper drinking water for forest and wildlife workers. According to the report of the Bangladesh Forest Department, this flooding in the Sundarbans was the worst in 14 years.
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Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Yaas was an incredibly powerful and devastating tropical cyclone that caused significant destruction in the Indian states of West Bengal and Odisha. It was the 2 nd cyclonic storm, 2 nd severe cyclonic storm, and 2 nd very severe cyclonic storm of the North Indian Ocean cyclone season in 2021.
Category: Very Severe Cyclonic Storm
Location: North Indian Ocean
Formed: 23 May, 2021
Dissipated: 28 May, 2021
Highest winds: 3-minute sustained: 85 mph (140 km/h); 1-minute sustained: 75 mph (120 km/h)
Lowest pressure: 970 hPa (mbar); 28.64 inHg
Affected Countries: India, Bangladesh and Nepal
Fatalities: approx. total 20 (across India and Bangladesh)
Damage: approx. $2.84 billion (2021 USD)
Formation and track
Cyclone Yaas originated from a low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal on 22 May 2021. On 23 May, the wind system subsequently strengthened into a deep depression. The following day, the system intensified into a cyclonic storm and subsequently received the name Yaas. On the same day, a little later, as Cyclone Yaas turned to the northeast, it further strengthened and was upgraded to a severe cyclonic storm. On 25 May 2021, the cyclone continued to intensify into a Category 1-equivalent tropical cyclone. Yaas continued to intensify and subsequently reached the status of a very severe cyclonic storm the same day. It reached its peak intensity of 85 mph (140 km/h) in three-minute sustained wind speeds.
On 26 May 2021, at its peak intensity, Cyclone Yaas crossed the northern coast of Odisha, around 20 km south of Balasore, as a very severe cyclonic storm. The same day, at around 09:00 IST, the cyclone made landfall, at the same intensity, towards the north of Dhamra Port and south of Bahanaga. As the cyclone moved inland, it faced increased vertical shear and gradually weakened to a tropical storm. Yaas weakened to a deep depression and ultimately, on 28 May 2021, dissipated in northern India.
Preparations
In India
The Ministry of Telecommunications of India kept all telecom exchanges and towers under watch in view of the approaching cyclone. The Union Power Ministry of India kept generators and transformers on standby to meet power outages. Electrical companies in Odisha and West Bengal stayed on guard to ensure uninterrupted power supply, especially to the important health care centres and crucial establishments like drainage pumping stations. The Health Ministry also made adequate preparations to ensure that there was no disruption in vaccine supplement and COVID- 19 treatment during the ongoing second wave of COVID-19 in the country.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deployed around 115 teams in 5 states. Rescue and relief teams of the Indian Navy, the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Army were deployed over the coastal districts of West Bengal and Odisha. Indian Railways halted train services to and from certain parts of West Bengal and Odisha. Airline operations at airports in Rourkela, Bhubaneswar, Durgapur and Kolkata were suspended due to Cyclone Yaas.
Odisha
On 25 May 2021, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) raised a red alert for Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, and Balasore. The same day, an orange alert was issued for Puri, Jajpur, Cuttack, Mayurbhanj, and Khordha.
West Bengal
Starting on 24 May 2021, people living in the low-lying areas in Jhargram and East and West Midnapore were evacuated and taken to shelter homes. Starting on 25 May, 2021, the Port of Kolkata began to suspend all shipping activities in the city.
Jharkhand
More than 600,000 people were evacuated to disaster shelters due to the approach of the Very Severe Cyclonic Storm.
In other countries
In Sri Lanka
A red alert for strong winds and heavy rain from Cyclone Yaas was issued in Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern and Western provinces of Sri Lanka on 24 May 2021. In Bangladesh
More than 2 million individuals were evacuated in coastal areas of Bangladesh due to the approaching cyclone.
Aftermath
In India
West Bengal
West Bengal was the most heavily impacted Indian state from Cyclone Yaas. Over 4,500 villages were damaged in the cyclone. Before Cyclone Yaas came, a tornado outbreak was reported in the districts of Hooghly and North 24 Paragana.
Cyclone Yaas generated strong storm surge and high waves which crashed the coastal beaches of Mandarmoni and Digha. The concrete embankments in these areas broke and seawater flooded the whole of the Digha—Mandarmoni Belt. The city of Kolkata experienced powerful gusty winds, of around 39 mph (62 km/h) winds, due to the huge wind field of Cyclone Yaas.
Yaas caused damage of around US$2.76 billion (₹20 thousand crore) in West Bengal.
Odisha
In Odisha, around 120 village settlements were flooded and heavily devastated by the torrential rain. The total damages in the state was estimated to be around US$83.63 million (₹610 crore).
Other states
The rainfall from Yaas also extended to Uttar Pradesh. Nearly 10 lakh people were affected, 2 persons died, 18 were injured and 500 homes were damaged in Jharkhand.
In Nepal
Light rainfall was caused in certain areas of Nepal by the remnants of Yaas. Some hikers and climbers at Mount Lhotse and Mount Everest were stranded in high summits.
In Bangladesh
Tidal waves generated by Yaas flooded low-lying areas in Satkhira, Patuakhali, Barguna, Khulna, Jhalokathi, and Noakhali, including some fishing settlements in Sundarbans.
After Yaas moved inland, the Bangladesh portion of the Sundarban areas were inundated with saline seawater, thereby sparking fears of probable damage to the forest ecosystem. Out of the 54 freshwater ponds within the forest, the seawater filled 53 ponds, thereby cutting off the supply of proper drinking water for forest and wildlife workers. According to the report of the Bangladesh Forest Department, this flooding in the Sundarbans was the worst in 14 years.
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