India, May 19 -- Cyclone may be severe due to the extremely warm sea-surface temperatures

The first cyclone of the pre-monsoon season for 2024 may be brewing in the Bay of Bengal even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) puts Kerala and Tamil Nadu on red alert for extreme rainfall on May 19 and May 20 due to multiple land-based cyclonic circulations and low-pressure systems over the region.

The cyclone may become severe due to the extremely warm sea-surface temperatures in the Bay of Bengal over the past few months. The IMD has not yet issued a cyclone alert.

Wind speed in the Bay of Bengal. Screengrab: Earth Null School

The weather visualisation website Windy.com on May 19 shows the formation of a low-pressure area on May 21,...