Cyclone Alert / Bay of Bengal System to Turn into Deep Depression Tomorrow; Cyclone Likely by Monday

Bhubaneswar, Oct 24: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a depression on Saturday, a deep depression on Sunday and a cyclonic storm by Monday morning.

The system is likely to move towards the north Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha coast, with a possible landfall on the morning of October 28.

IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said the exact location and time of landfall would be indicated after the system consolidates into a depression. He said the weather system is likely to continue intensifying as it moves west-northwestwards over the sea.

System’s likely course

The low-pressure area formed over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal on Friday morning. It is expected to concentrate into a depression on October 24 and strengthen into a deep depression on October 25.

By the morning of October 26, the system is likely to develop into a cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal. Thereafter, it is likely to move west-northwestwards and approach the north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coast around October 28 morning.

Wind speed over the southeast Bay of Bengal was recorded at 35-45 kmph on Friday. It may rise to 55-65 kmph, gusting to 75 kmph, on Saturday, and reach up to 90 kmph by October 26.
Also Read: Odisha Prepared To Face Possible Cyclone, No Need To Panic: Minister Suresh Pujari

Rain alerts

The IMD has forecast light to moderate rainfall at many places across coastal Odisha on October 26. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places on October 27, while extremely heavy rainfall may occur at isolated places on October 28. Heavy to very heavy showers may continue at isolated places on October 29.

A red warning has been issued for Puri, Ganjam and Gajapati districts from October 27 to October 28. The red warning has also been extended to Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri districts for October 28.

A yellow alert has been issued for Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khordha, Nayagarh, Ganjam and Gajapati districts for October 26, with thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds likely.