Bhubaneswar: The low pressure area over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining south Andaman Sea and East Equatorial Indian Ocean moved east-northeastwards and now lies as a well-marked low pressure area, according to the regional Meteorological centre here.
It is likely to move nearly northwards along and off Andaman and Nicobar Islands, intensify into a depression by March 20 morning and into a cyclonic storm on March 21.
Thereafter, it is likely to move nearly north-northeastwards and reach near Bangladesh-north Myanmar coasts on March 22 morning.
It is after almost two decades that the Indian Ocean will see a storm in the month of March. If the system intensifies into a cyclonic storm, it will be called ‘Cyclone Asani’, a name given by Sri Lanka.
The cyclonic storm, however, is unlikely to have any impact on Odisha if it follows the predicted trajectory.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has, however, forecast light to moderate rain or thundershowers at one or two places in Rayagada, Kandhamal, Ganjam, Gajapati, Angul, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj on March 21.
One or two places in Coastal Odisha, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri are also likely to experience rain during the subsequent 24 hours.
NDRF personnel have been deployed and are ready at different places with all necessary equipment to carry out search and rescue operations.
