Cyclone Hamoon To Form In Bay Of Bengal In 3 Hours; Some Damage To Puja Pandal In Odisha Likely, Says IMD DG

Bhubaneswar: The Deep Depression over Westcentral Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm in 3 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed on Monday evening.

The Deep Depression is currently located in westcentral Bay of Bengal after moving north-northeastwards with a speed of 13 kmph during the last few hours. It lies centred around 320 km south-southeast of Paradip (Odisha) and 470 km south-southwest of Digha (West Bengal). “It is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm during next 3 hours,” it said.

As per the IMD’s latest projected cyclone track, Hamoon would weaken as it nears the Bangladesh coast. “The system is likely to move nearly north-northeastwards and cross Bangladesh coast between Khepupara and Chittagong around evening of October 25 as a Deep Depression with wind speed of 55-75 kmph,” it added.

If this system intensifies into a cyclone, it will be called Hamoon, a name given by Iran based on the formula followed for naming cyclones in the Indian Ocean Region.

IMD DG Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said the wind speed over the Bay of Bengal will gradually increase to 80 to 90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph by Tuesday morning. “Odisha has received about 15 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours under the influence of the system. Light to moderate rain may continue in coastal areas of Odisha on October 23-24. Some places from Jagatsinghpur to Balasore may also witness isolated heavy rain (7 to 11 cm). However, there will be no problem due to rain in the state,” he said.

Mohapatra further said that there will be no direct impact of the cyclone on Odisha as the system will be around 200 km from the coast, but puja pandals, which are not strong enough, might suffer some damage due to strong wind.

The MeT office has forecast heavy rainfall (7 to 11 cm) may occur at one or two places in Bhadrak, Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur till 8.30 am on Tuesday. Light to moderate rain/thundershower is also likely at many places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, at a few places in remaining coastal Odisha, at one or two places in Sundargarh, Deogarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Angul, Dhenkanal, Boudh, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri.

Also Read: ‘Cyclone Hamoon’ Impact: Heavy Rain To Lash Odisha Today; Yellow Alert For Bhubaneswar & Cuttack

While light to moderate rain is likely to continue in some districts of the state during the next 3 days, the intensity of downpour may gradually decrease.

The MeT office further informed that Paradip had received 48.7 mm rainfall till 2.30 pm followed by Chandbali (10.8) and Balasore (2.7).

Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is also likely from October 23 evening to October 24 along and off Odisha coast and it is likely to increase gradually becoming gale with wind speed of 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph from October 24-26.

Sea condition will be rough on October 23, becoming very rough to high from October 24-26 over North Bay of Bengal, along and off Odisha coast. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into westcentral Bay of Bengal till October 25 and along and off Odisha coast and north Bay of Bengal during October 23-25.

Ports in Odisha have been asked to hoist Local Cautionary Signal No-3 (LC-3).

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