Cyclone Threat Looms As Depression Over Bay Of Bengal To Intensify By Oct 23, Says IMD

Bhubaneswar, Oct 20: The coastal areas of Odisha may have to deal with a cyclone after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a warning, Sunday.

According IMD, a depression over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm by October 23.

The storm, as per an IMD report, is likely to move north-westwards and reach the north-west Bay of Bengal, impacting the Odisha-West Bengal coasts by the morning of October 24.

An upper air cyclonic circulation over the North Andaman Sea is developing into a low-pressure area over the East-central Bay of Bengal, says the IMD.

This system is predicted to intensify into a depression by October 22 and further into a cyclonic storm by October 23.

Issueing a warning, the IMD has advised fishermen to return to shore by October 21. The Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, predicting heavy rainfall October 20.

Coastal regions of Odisha and West Bengal are likely to experience squally weather with wind speeds of 35-45 kmph, gusting up to 55 kmph, from October 21-22.