Anticipated Depression Over Bay May Intensify Further, Trigger Heavy Rain In Odisha; Check Wind Warning

Bhubaneswar: Amid the rising mercury levels and thunderstorm activity in Odisha, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday said that the forecasted depression over central parts of Bay of Bengal may intensify further.

“A cyclonic circulation lies over Southwest Bay of Bengal coast. Under its influence, a low pressure area is very likely to form over southwest Bay of Bengal by May 22. It is very likely to move northeastwards and concentrate into a Depression over central parts of Bay of Bengal by morning of May 24. It would continue to move northeastwards and intensify further thereafter.”

However, no prediction has been made yet on likely intensification of the system into a cyclone.

The weather agency has warned of heavy rain in Balasore district on May 25. Thunderstorm and lightning accompanied by gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph may also occur at one or two places in North Coastal Odisha, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Angul, and Dhenkanal.

It has specifically cautioned fishermen off the coasts of northern Odisha and West Bengal to stay ashore on May 23 and 24 as sea conditions are likely to be rough to very rough. Squally weather with wind speed reaching 35-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph is likely over south Bay of Bengal on May 21-22. It would gradually increase to 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph over central and adjoining south Bay of Bengal from May 23 morning. It would extend to adjoining areas of North Bay of Bengal with increased wind speed of 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph from May 24 morning and over northeast Bay of Bengal & adjoining north west & east central Bay of Bengal from May 25 morning for subsequent 24 hours. “Sea condition is likely to be moderate to rough over southwest Bay of Bengal on May 21-22, rough to very rough over central and adjoining south Bay of Bengal from May 23 and over North Bay of Bengal from May 24 onwards.”

If the cyclone (which would be named Remal) does form, it would be the first of the pre-monsoon season of 2024. Weather experts are of the opinion that the advancing southwest monsoon wind can prove to be a restricting factor. “If that’s the case, this will end up as a monsoon depression bringing rains, otherwise, it could develop into a weak cyclone of a short duration,” Dr Roxy Koll, a climate scientist and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) lead author, was quoted as saying by TNIE.

Director of Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre here Manorama Mohanty had earlier told the media that the IMD is keeping a close watch on the likely system and requested the people not to panic or spread any wrong information.

WEATHER FORECAST FOR NEXT 54DAYS

Meanwhile, the IMD has issued orange warning of thunderstorm and lightning accompanied by gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph for one or two places in South Odisha, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, and Bargarh districts on May 21. Light to moderate rain/thundershower may also occur at a few places in South Odisha and at one or two places in North Odisha.

Amid the thunderstorm activity, heatwave may prevail at one or two places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, and Gajapati.

On May 22, thunderstorm with lightning is at one or two places in Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Rayagada, and Kalahandi. Light to moderate rain/thundershower may also occur at a few places in South Coastal Odisha and at one or two places in Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, and Mayurbhanj.

Heatwave condition may also persist at one or two places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, and Gajapati.

On May 23, thunderstorm with lightning may continue at one or two places in Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Rayagada, and Kalahandi. Light to moderate rain/thundershower may occur at a few places in coastal Odisha, Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, and Mayurbhanj.

On May 24, thunderstorm with lightning may occur at one or two places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, and Kandhamal. Light to moderate rain/thundershower is also likely at a few places in South Odisha and at one or two places in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Jharsuguda, and Sundargarh.

The IMD further said that the day temperature may gradually rise by 2-3 degree Celsius at many places in the state during the next 2 days with no large change thereafter.