Weather Forecast / New low-pressure area forms over South Andaman Sea, likely to intensify within 24 hours: IMD

Bhubaneswar, Oct 29: A low-pressure area had formed over the south Andaman Sea and adjoining areas and is likely to intensify into a well-marked low-pressure area over the same region within the next 24 hours, Manorama Mohanty, Director of the India Meteorological Department's Regional Centre in Bhubaneswar, said on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the remnants of Cyclone Arnab have weakened from a deep depression into a depression centred near southern Odisha and adjoining southern Chhattisgarh, she said.

The IMD has issued a red alert for Sundaragada and Baragada districts for the next 24 hours, warning of extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places as the remnants of Cyclone Arnab continue to influence weather conditions over southern Odisha.

Orange alert for five
An orange alert has been issued for Kendujhar, Debagada, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda and Mayurbhanj districts. A yellow alert is in place for Ganjam, Gajapati, Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Anugola, Boudh, Subarnapur, Nuapada, Balangir, Jajpur, Puri, Khordha, Kataka, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapada districts.

Rainfall may be accompanied by winds of 30-40 kmph, with gusts reaching 50 kmph, the weather agency forecast.

Also Read: Cyclone Arnab Weakens into Deep Depression, Odisha Braces for Heavy Rain

Patrapur records 546 mm rainfall
Odisha recorded widespread rainfall during the 24 hours preceding the bulletin. Extremely heavy rainfall was reported at 15 locations, very heavy rainfall at 21 locations and heavy rainfall at 71 locations.

Patrapur in Ganjam district recorded the highest rainfall at 546 mm. Sorada in the same district received 503.8 mm, while G Udayagiri in Kandhamal recorded 462.4 mm and Mahendragarh in Gajapati received 458.8 mm.

Heavy rainfall has triggered waterlogging and flood-like conditions in several parts of Ganjam and Gajapati districts.

IMD clarifies Cyclone Arnab did not change course
Addressing concerns over the cyclone's movement, Mohanty clarified that Cyclone Arnab had not changed its track. She explained that the system's movement slowed as it underwent a turn of approximately 90 degrees during the landfall process.

The phenomenon, described in the supplied statement as a 'steering current', takes time and can cause the cyclone's forward movement to slow down, she explained.