Cyclone Update / Cyclone Arnab Forms Over Bay Of Bengal, Red Alert For Five Odisha Districts

Bhubaneswar, Oct 26: The Bay of Bengal has witnessed the formation of Cyclone 'Arnab', the first cyclonic storm of the year in the region, as the weather system intensified from a deep depression on Monday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast further intensification, with the system likely to become a severe cyclonic storm by October 27 and a very severe cyclonic storm by October 28.

The cyclone has been moving west-northwestwards over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal. According to the forecast by the regional centre of IMD in Bhubaneswar, the cyclone is likely to approach the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by the morning of October 28.

The system is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts as a very severe cyclonic storm by the forenoon of October 28, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 115-125 kmph and gusts reaching 140 kmph.

Red Warning For Five Odisha Districts
The IMD has issued a red warning for Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Ganjam districts for the 24-hour period from 8:30 am on October 28 to 8:30 am on October 29.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at a few places, with extremely heavy rainfall possible at isolated locations in these districts. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty surface winds of 50-60 kmph, with gusts reaching 70 kmph, are also forecast at isolated places.

Orange Alert For Nine Districts
An orange warning has been issued for Baragada, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Puri, Khordha and Nayagada districts for October 28. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in these districts. Thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph, with gusts reaching 60 kmph, are also forecast.

A yellow warning for heavy rainfall at isolated places has been issued for Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Sundaragada, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Debagada, Anugola, Dhenkanal, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Subarnapur and Boudh districts during the same period.

Also Read: Odisha Mobilizes 8 Ministers, 6 Senior IAS Officers in Massive Pre-Emptive Crackdown Against Approaching Cyclonic Arnab

Rainfall Warnings For October 29-30
For the 24-hour period from 8:30 am on October 29 to 8:30 am on October 30, the IMD has issued an orange warning for Sundaragada, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places.

A yellow warning for heavy rainfall has also been issued for Baleshwar, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Debagada, Kendujhar and Mayurbhanj.

The evolving cyclone is expected to bring significant rainfall to several parts of Odisha even as the forecast track points towards the Andhra Pradesh coast.