Depression Forms over Bay of Bengal

A depression formed over the Bay of Bengal on Friday morning. At 10:00 a.m. EST on Friday the center of the depression was located at latitude 9.4°N and longitude 83.4°E which put it about 320 miles (515 km) southeast of Chennai India. It was moving toward the north-northwest at 7 m.p.h (11 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1000 mb.

The circulation around a low pressure system over the Bay of Bengal strengthened on Friday morning and the system was classified as a depression by the India Meteorological Department. More thunderstorms develop near the enter of the depression. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of circulation. Storms near the center generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the north of the depression.

The depression will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. The depression will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28˚C. It will move under the western part of an upper level ridge centered over southeast Asia. The ridge will produce southeast winds that will blow toward the top of the depression. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear and the shear will inhibit intensification. The depression is likely to intensify during the next 24 hours unless the upper level winds get stronger.

The depression will move south of a high pressure system centered over southeast Asia. The high pressure system will steer the depression slowly toward the northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track the depression will remain northeast of Sri Lanka and it will move closer to southern India.