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Tropical Storm to bring heavy rain and flooding to India and Sri Lanka this week
Eric Leister
By Eric Leister, Meteorologist
May 18, 2016; 8:01 AM ET

The first tropical cyclone of the season in the Bay of Bengal will track near the east coast of India this week, leading to additional flooding and widespread travel delays.

The depression, named BOB 01, currently has sustained winds of 75-92 km/h (45-55 mph). Gradual strengthening is expected over the next 24 hours.

As the cyclone spins near the coast of India, heavy rain will fall in northeastern Tamil Nadu and eastern Andhra Pradesh through at least Thursday.

Due to the close proximity to land, AccuWeather meteorologists think that there is a minimal threat for this low to become a significant tropical cyclone. However, the flood threat will not diminish.
Through Thursday, widespread rainfall of 100-200 mm (4-8 inches) of rain is expected across the region.

The heaviest rain will fall from Chennai to Machilipatnam. These areas could see locally 300 mm (12 inches) of rain.

In Chennai, where the worst flooding in a century brought the city to a stand still in December, the heaviest rain will fall through Wednesday before drier weather returns late in the week. Flooding this week is not expected to be as severe as December's event; however, travel delays are likely. Rainfall has already surpassed

Heavy rain will also fall across Kerala and western Sri Lanka where downpours will continue into Thursday. Drenching rain has caused flooding in these areas and additional downpours will elevate the threat of flooding and mudslides.

The 2015 monsoon brought below-average rainfall to Kerala, so this early-season rainfall is needed across the region, despite the dangers. May is typically when southern India and Sri Lanka have an increase in rain from tropical lows and cyclones, which tend to develop during the leading edge of the monsoon.

At least eleven people were killed in flooding and mudslides, while more than 130,000 have been forced out of their homes, according to The Associated Press.

The depression is expected to turn northeast late this week and into this weekend as the heaviest rain shifts from India into Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Meteorologist Adam Douty contributed content to this story.
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Cyclone Roanu leaves at least 21 people dead in Bangladesh
Kristina Pydynowski
By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist
May 21, 2016; 5:15 PM ET


After causing devastating flooding and mudslides in Sri Lanka earlier in the week, Cyclone Roanu turned deadly again this weekend as it slammed into Bangladesh.

At least 21 people are dead with many more injured in coastal Bangladesh, according to Reuters.
The deaths occurred amid house collapses, landslides and a storm surge that broke embankments at two spots in Chittagong.

Bangladeshi men pull a loaded cart through a waterlogged street after heavy rainfall in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Saturday, May 21, 2016. Mixing of rain water and toxicwaste from industries has turned water green. (AP Photo/ A.M. Ahad)

Officials told Reuters that some places were inundated by a storm surge that was 0.9 to 1.2 meters (3 to 4 feet) above normal tide height.

The first tropical cyclone of the season in the Bay of Bengal made landfall in Bangladesh, just north of Chittagong, on Saturday.

While interaction with land is causing Roanu to weaken, in terms of damaging winds, the threat for flooding will persist across northeastern India and northern and coastal Myanmar on Sunday.

In northeastern India, this includes Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and eastern parts of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

Widespread rainfall totals of 150-300 mm (6-12 inches) are expected, raising significant concerns for life-threatening flooding and landslides. Some communities could be cut off by damaged or flood-ravaged roads and bridges.


"There will be localized amounts in excess of 300 mm (12 inches)," AccuWeather Meteorologist Rob Richards said. That is especially true in the higher terrain.

While the heaviest rain has departed, Bangladesh will face locally heavy thunderstorms into Sunday, which threatens to renew more flooding and interfere withcleanup operations.

Prior to the cyclone's arrival, Reuters reported that authorities in Bangladesh relocated about 500,000 people into 3,500 homes.

Roanu also turned deadly in Sri Lanka earlier in the week. The Associated Press reports that more than 70 people have been killed in landslides and flooding since Monday. Dozens are missing after mudslides devastated three villages in the central district of Kegalle.

While the rain spread from Sri Lanka, then up the eastern coast of India, intense heat worsened across western India as the circulation around Roanu pulled in dry and warmer air. On Thursday, Phalodi in Rajasthan set the all-time record high for India when temperatures soared to 51 C (123.8 F).

The extreme heat will ease for this weekend, but hot conditions will continue to put a strain on residents throughout western and northern India well into next week.