Tropical Depression 97B Slowly Intensifiying In The Bay of Bengal
Image of Tropical Depression 97B (Image from Kin Largadas)
Tropical Depression 97B is located near 8.2N 85.4E, approximately 335 miles southeast of Chennai, India.Tropical Depression 97B is currently in a favorable environment for development with good poleward and equatorward outflow, low vertical wind shear, and warm sea surface temperatures reaching up to 30 degrees celcius or 85 degrees fahrenhait.Infrared satellite imagery shows an asymmetric convective structure, with the majority of deep convection located to the north of the low level circulation center (LLCC) as formative banding.
A 22/15:21 UTC ASCAT pass shows a roughly north-south oriented elongated LLCC with mostly 15 to 20 knot winds covering the northern hemisphere, with a small swath of 20 to 25 knot winds embedded within.
Global models are in general agreement that Tropical Depression 97B will continue to consolidate and intensify as it tracks northwestward toward India, reaching warning threshold over the next couple days; however, GFS presents a much faster intensification scenario.
Tropical Depression 97B’s Current Information:
