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While the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has yet to identify the potential landfall location of the prospective cyclone that may transform into a strong cyclonic storm on October 24, the meteorological office has released graphics depicting the storm’s possible path.
The pictures show that a powerful cyclonic storm is likely to impact the north Odisha coast.
On Sunday, IMD DG Mrutyunjay Mohapatra stated that Odisha is likely to suffer the brunt of the cyclonic storm, which will spend the most time over the Odisha coast, resulting in heavy to extremely heavy rainfall and winds gusting up to 100-120 km/hour.
On Monday, the cyclonic circulation over the Andaman Sea intensified into a low-pressure region, which is anticipated to develop into a cyclonic stormby October 23 which will impact Odisha-West Bengal coast, the IMD said.
The IMD in a special message said Sunday’s upper air cyclonic circulation over North Andaman Sea and the adjoining Bay of Bengal has formed a low-pressure area over the east-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Andaman Sea early on Monday morning.
“It is very likely to intensify into a depression by October 22 morning and into a cyclonic storm by October 23 over east-central Bay of Bengal,” the IMD said. The system is very likely to reach northwest Bay of Bengal off the Odisha-West Bengal coasts by October 24 morning.
The weather agency predicts light to moderate rainfall in most parts of Odisha on October 23, with heavy rain in isolated areas. Heavy to very heavy rainfall may occur in a few spots, with extremely heavy rainfall in isolated areas on October 24-25.
As it moves northwest, it is highly likely to cross the north Odisha and West Bengal shores between Puri and Sagar Island as a severe cyclonic storm with wind speeds of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph during the night of October 24 and early October 25 morning.
The IMD has issued a red alert (take action) for isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20 cm) and isolated extremely heavy rainfall (more than 20 cm). A thunderstorm with lightning has been called for isolated places in Puri, Khurda, Ganjam and Jagatsinghpur districts October 24.
It also issued an orange warning (get ready to take action) of heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20 cm) along with thunderstorm with lightning for isolated places in Kendrapada, Cuttack, Nayagarh, Kandhamal and Gajapati districts.
Yellow warning (be aware) of heavy rainfall (7 to 11cm) and thunderstorm with lightning has also been issued for isolated places in Bhadrak, Balasore, Jajpur, Angul, Dhenkanal, Boudh, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts.
The IMD stated that squally wind speeds of 40-50 kmph with gusts up to 60 kmph are very likely to begin over the northwest adjoining west central Bay of Bengal, along and off the Odisha coast, on October 23 evening. From October 24 night to October 25 morning, the wind speed would steadily climb to gale force, reaching 100-110 kmph with gusts up to 120.
Meanwhile, the Odisha government has put the District Collectors of coastal districts on high alert and asked them to take all necessary precautions, including the evacuation of people from susceptible areas.
