Overall Red alert Tropical Cyclone for YAAS-21
in India

Event summary

Tropical Cyclone YAAS-21 can have a high humanitarian impact based on the maximum sustained wind speed, exposed population and vulnerability.

GDACS ID TC 1000784
Name YAAS-21
Glide number: TC-2021-000056-IND
From - To 24 May - 26 May
Exposed countries India
Exposed population 1.2 million in Category 1 or higher
Maximum wind speed 120 km/h Category 1
Maximum storm surge 1.6 m (26 May 07:00 UTC)
Vulnerability High (India)

GDACS Score

For more info on GDACS alert score click here.
Wind Storm surge Rainfall GDACS score
Single TC: maximum expected impact (wind, storm surge, rainfall)
HWRF 140 km/h 1.7 m 1076 mm 0.5
GFS 151 km/h 1.8 m 539 mm 0.5
ECMWF 90 km/h 1.5 m 767 mm 0.5
Maximum expected impact (wind, storm surge and rainfall) using different data sources.
Virtual OSOCC
Meteo assessment
Satellite products
Analytical products
Cyclone Yaas – India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka (ECHO 24 May 2021)Mon, 24 May 2021 14:20

  • The Deep Depression over Eastcentral Bay of Bengal intensified into Cyclonic Storm ‘Yaas’ and lay centred at 05:30 hrs (LT) over Eastcentral Bay of Bengal, about 540 km south-southeast of Paradip (Odisha) and 630 km south-southeast of Digha (West Bengal).
  • In the next 24 hours it is expected to intensify into a Severe Cyclonic Storm and likely to cross north Odisha-West Bengal coasts between Paradip (Odisha) and Sagar islands (West Bengal) around 26 May as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm with wind speed from 155 to 165 kmph, gusting at 185 kmph.
  • In India, State governments of West Bengal and Odisha, also impacted by TC Amphan in 2020, are on high alert. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed. State Government of West Bengal have ordered the evacuation of people from low-lying areas.
  • In Bangladesh, all ports have been advised to hoist distant warning signal number two. Heavy rainfall is expected to hit several parts of the country. A total of 3 million people may be exposed, of which 1 million may observe high impact as of today’s impact-based forecast model. Preparedness and coordination activities are ongoing with civil society and Government authorities, challenged by COVID-19, including in the refugee areas in Cox’s Bazar.
  • In Sri Lanka, Meteorological Department has issued red alert for heavy rains above 150 mm and strong wind up to 55 kmph in southern part (Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Southern provinces) of the country.
India, Bangladesh - Tropical Cyclone YAAS update (ECHO 25 May 2021)Tue, 25 May 2021 16:41

  • Tropical Cyclone YAAS is strengthening as it moves north-northwest over the northern Bay of Bengal, towards the coast of Odisha State (eastern India). On 25 May at 0.00 UTC, its centre was located approximately 290 km southeast of Ratanpur Town.
  • YAAS is forecast to continue north-northwest and to make landfall over the northern coast of Odisha between the towns of Basudebpur and Ratanpur on the night (UTC) of 25 May night. After that, it will move inland crossing northern Odisha.
  • On 25-26 May, heavy rain, strong winds and storm surge are forecast over most parts of eastern India, including Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand and coastal Andra Pradesh. Heavy rain and strong winds are also expected over southern and central Divisions of Bangladesh, including Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh and Sylhet.
  • Red warnings for heavy rain and strong winds are in effect over Odisha, West Bengal and Jharkhand on 26 May. Authorities in the affected states in India are evacuating people to safer places. In Bangladesh, all ports have been advised to host distant warning signal number Two. Cyclone shelters in coastal districts have been kept ready.
  • DG ECHO is closely monitoring the situation.
India, Bangladesh - Tropical Cyclone YAAS update (ECHO 26 May 2021)Wed, 26 May 2021 15:54

  • Tropical Cyclone YAAS is approaching the northern coast of Odisha State and on 26 May at 0.00 UTC its centre was located approximately 50 km southeast of Balasore City (Odisha) with maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h.
  • According to media reports, at least two people died and 1,2 million people have been evacuated across Odisha.
  • YAAS is forecast to continue northwest and to make landfall over the northeastern coast of Odisha very close to Balasore City over the morning of 26 May (UTC). After that, it will cross inland Odisha and Jharkhand States.
  • For the next 24 hours, heavy rain, strong winds and storm surge are forecast over eastern India, particularly across Odisha, West Bengal and Jharkhand. In Bangladesh, moderate to heavy rain and strong winds are also expected over the Divisions of Khulna, Barishal, Dhaka, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram and Sylhet. 
  • Red warnings for heavy rain are still in effect over the States of Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal on 26-27 May.
India, Bangladesh - Tropical Cyclone YAAS, update (ECHO 27 May 2021)Thu, 27 May 2021 16:30

  • Following the passage of Tropical cyclone YAAS that made landfall over the northern coast of Odisha on 26 May, the number of casualties has been increasing.
  • According to media reports, in India, six people have died and approximately 22,000 houses have been damaged across the States of Odisha and West Bengal. In addition, airports in Kolkata and Bhubaneshwar have been temporarily closed and train services were cancelled.
  • In Bangladesh, 15,000 people have been displaced across 200 villages as their homes, shops and farms have been flooded.
  • For the next 24 hours, moderate to heavy rain with thunderstorms is forecast over northeastern States of India including Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar and East Uttar Pradesh. In Bangladesh, light to moderate rain with thunderstorms is expected across the Divisions of Khulna, Barishal, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet.
  • Red warnings for heavy rain are in effect over the States of Jharkhand and Bihar on 26 May.
Detailed event map. European Union, 2024. Map produced by EC-JRC.
The boundaries and the names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the European Union.

Updates on volcanic activity (Smithsonian)

Latest media headlines

Articles: 543 | About casualties: 43 | Last hour: 0

Sundarban bears the brunt of Yaas while shielding rest of the countrySun, 30 May 2021 05:58:00 +0200.

The Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest of which more than half lies in Bangladesh, once again acted as a natural barrier protecting the country from the worst effects of Cyclone Yaas, as it has done countless times before. Yet
...(more)
Heat wave to bake West on Memorial Day and beyondSat, 29 May 2021 20:28:00 +0200.

As this area of high pressure in the upper levels of the atmosphere strengthens, dry and summerlike air will expand northward and eastward from California. While summerlike heat will largely be confined to the valleys of Northern and centra
...(more)
Mamata Banerjee Insulted PM: BJP's Suvendu Adhikari On Meeting RowSat, 29 May 2021 16:58:00 +0200.

Kolkata: Leader of the opposition in West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Chief Secretary have insulted Prime Minister Narendra Modi by not attending a meeting chaired b
...(more)
WB-LD SUVENDU - Mamata, chief secy insulted PM by not attending cyclon ... Sat, 29 May 2021 16:56:00 +0200.

Contributed by NAMPA / PTI. Kolkata, May 29 (PTI) Leader of the opposition in West Bengal assembly Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the chief secretary have insulted Prime Minister Narendra Modi b
...(more)

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Estimated casualties (PAGER)

USGS estimates the number of casualties for each earthquake for the Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) product.
The graph shows the current fatalities estimate.

Exposed population

Data, images, links, services and documents

For this events, GDACS has links to information from the following sources: EC-JRC (38), (2), DesInventar (4), WMO (1), INFORM (2),