Tropical Cyclone Yaas Hits Northeast India

Tropical Cyclone Yaas hit northeastern India early on Wednesday. At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Yaas was located at latitude 21.8°N and longitude 86.8°E which put it about 115 miles (185 km) southwest of Kolkata, India. Yaas was moving toward the northwest at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 978 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Yaas made landfall on the coast of northeastern India early on Wednesday. The center of Yaas crossed the coastline near Balasore, India. Tropical Cyclone Yaas was the equivalent of a strong tropical storm at the time when it made landfall. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 160 miles (260 km) on the eastern side of Yaas over the northern Bay of Bengal. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 140 miles (225 km) on the western side of the circulation which was over northern Odisha.

Tropical Cyclone Yaas will move slowly toward the northwest over northeastern India during the next day or so. Yaas will weaken gradually as it moves farther inland. Tropical Cyclone Yaas will produce gusty winds over northern Odisha during the next 24 hours. The wind could cause sporadic power outages. Yaas will also drop locally heavy rain over parts of northeastern India and flash floods could occur in some locations. The heaviest rain will fall in the western side of the circulation. Tropical Cyclone Yaas may have caused a storm surge of up to 7 feet (2 meters) along the coast of northern Bay of Bengal. The water level should drop slowly as Yaas moves farther inland and weakens.