Cyclone Gulab Nears Odisha Coast, Red Alert For 7 Southern Districts; Know The Wind Speed

Bhubaneswar: The cyclonic storm Gulab over northwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal moved nearly westwards with a speed of 7 kmph in the last 6 hours and was about  310 km east-southeast of Gopalpur and 380 km east of Kalingapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) at 5.30 am on Sunday.

The system is likely to move nearly westwards and cross north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts between Kalingapatnam and Gopalpur this evening, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Under its influence, light to moderate rainfall has already started in southern districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Koraput and Malkangiri as well as in the central coastal districts of Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Khurda, Puri and Nayagarh.

In view of the possibility of landslides and flash floods in the southern districts, about 500 people living in the hillside areas in Gajapati district have been evacuated.

Wind warning
Gale wind speed reaching 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph will prevail over the north-west and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal. The wind speed will increase further with a velocity of 75-85 kmph gusting to 95 kmph from the forenoon till evening on Sunday.

Wind speed in Ganjam and Gajapati districts
Squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph likely to prevail along and off Odisha- coast and it will gradually increase to become gale wind speed reaching 75-85 kmph gusting to 95 kmph along and off the coasts in Ganjam and Gajapati districts from Sunday afternoon till midnight.

Wind speed in Khurda, Puri, Rayagada and Koraput districts
Wind speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph along and off Khurda, Puri, Rayagada and Koraput districts

Wind speed in Nabarangpur and Malkangiri districts
Wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph is expected in Nabarangpur and Malkangiri districts.

Apart from this, squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is likely to prevail along and off remaining parts of Odisha coasts on Sunday while the wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is likely to prevail along and off Odisha coasts on Monday, the IMD said.

Warning for fishermen
Due to the inclement weather, fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea along and off Odisha coasts, northwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal till September 27 as the sea condition will be very rough to high over the north-west and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal during the next 24 hours, rough to very rough along and off Odisha coast during next 12 hours and become high from Sunday morning till late evening.

Port warning
On the advice of the IMD, Danger Signal No-7 (D-7) has been hoisted at Gopalpur port, Danger Signal No-6 (D-6) at Puri port and Local Cautionary Signal No. 3 (LC-3) at Paradip, Dhamra and Chandbali ports in Odisha.

Storm surge warning
Tidal wave of about 0.5 metre in height above the astronomical tide likely to inundate low-lying areas of Ganjam districts during the time of landfall.

Rainfall warning
Under the influence of heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy rainfall at one or two places, IMD has issued red, orange and yellow warnings for the following districts.

September 26
(Red warning)
Heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with extremely heavy falls at one or two places over the districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Koraput and Malkangiri.

(Orange warning)
Heavy to very heavy rainfall at one or two places over the districts of Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh and Kalahandi.

(Yellow warning)
Heavy rainfall very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Cuttack, Boudh, Sonepur, Balangir and Nuapada.

September 27
(Orange warning)
Heavy to very heavy rainfall at one or two places over the districts of Nawarangpur, Koraput, and Malkangiri.

(Yellow warning)
Heavy rain at one or two places over the districts of Nuapada, Balangir and Kalahandi.