Tropical Cyclone Remal was approaching the coast of Bangladesh and West Bengal on Sunday morning. At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Cyclone Remal was located at latitude 20.7°N and longitude 88.9°E which put it about 155 miles (250 km) south-southeast of Kolkata, India. Remal was moving toward the north at 11 m.p.h. (17 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 985 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Remal was strengthening as it approached the coast of Bangladesh and West Bengal on Sunday morning. Even though Remal was getting stronger, the distribution of thunderstorms was asymmetrical. Most of the thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the southern half of Remal’s circulation. Bands in the northern part of Tropical Cyclone Remal consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of Remal’s circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone. The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Remal was large. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 190 miles (305 km) from the center of Remal’s circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Remal will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 12 hours. Remal will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 31°C. It will move under the axis of an upper level ridge over South Asia and the Bay of Bengal. The winds are weak near the axis off the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Cyclone Remal is likely to intensify during the next 12 hours. The large circulation around Remal could cause intensification to occur slowly.

Tropical Cyclone Remal formed along the leading edge of a surge of humid air moving north in the monsoonal flow over the Bay of Bengal. The monsoonal flow will continue to steer Remal north during the next 12 hours. On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Remal will reach the northern coast of the Bay of Bengal in 12 hours. The center of Remal is likely to make landfall near the western border between India and Bangladesh.

Tropical Cyclone Remal will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to Bangladesh and adjacent parts West Bengal. Heavy rain is likely to cause floods in some locations. Remal could also cause a storm surge of up to 7 feet (2 meters) along the coast of Bangladesh.