Cyclone ‘Michaung’ Takes Shape Over Bay; Rain & Squall May Lash Odisha From Tomorrow

Bhubaneswar: The deep depression over southwest Bay of Bengal intensified into cyclonic storm ‘Michaung’ on Sunday morning.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the system moved northwestwards with a speed of 5 kmph during past 6 hours, intensified into a cyclonic storm and lay centered at 5.30 am, about 300 km east-southeast of Puducherry, 310 km southeast of Chennai, 440 km southeast of Nellore, 550 km south-southeast of Bapatla and 550 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam.

It is likely to continue to move northwestwards, intensify further and reach westcentral Bay Of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts by December 4 forenoon. Thereafter, it would move nearly northwards almost parallel and close to south Andhra Pradesh coast and cross South Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam during forenoon of December 5 as a cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph, it added.

Rainfall Warning

✓North Coastal Tamil Nadu & Puducherry: Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places on December 3 and isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall on December 4 and decrease thereafter.

✓Coastal Andhra Pradesh: Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places over south coastal Andhra Pradesh on December 3 and heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy falls at isolated places over coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam on December 4-5. Isolated heavy rainfall is likely over north coastal Andhra Pradesh on December 6.

✓Rayalaseema: Light to moderate rainfall at most places with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall during December 3-4.

✓Odisha: Light to moderate rainfall at most places with isolated heavy rainfall is likely over South Coastal and adjoining South Interior Odisha during December 4-6 with isolated very heavy rainfall over the same region on December 5.

Also Read: Cyclone Michaung Likely Over Bay By Tomorrow; Know Meaning Of Its Name & Other 5 Storms In 2023

IMPACT ON ODISHA

Under the influence of the system, rain may resume in Odisha on December 3 with its intensity increasing in the next three days,

December 3

Light to moderate rain/thundershower may occur at a few places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapti, Ganjam at one or two places in rest districts of coastal Odisha, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi and Kandhamal.

December 4

Yellow Warning: Heavy rainfall (7 to 11 cm) is likely at one or two places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam.

Light to moderate rain/thundershower may also occur at many places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapti, Ganjam, Puri, at a few places in Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Nayagarh, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack and at one or two places in remaining parts of the state.

December 5

Orange warning: Heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20cm) may occur at one or two places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam.

Yellow Warning: Heavy rainfall (7 to 11cm) is also likely at one or two places in Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, and Puri.

Light to moderate rain/thundershower is expected at most places in South coastal Odisha, Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur and at many places in South interior Odisha, north coastal Odisha and at a few places in North interior Odisha.

December 6

Yellow Warning: Heavy rainfall (7 to 11cm) is likely at one or two places in Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri, Nayagarh, Khurda, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kandhamal and Rayagada.

Light to moderate rain/thundershower may also occur at most places in coastal Odisha, and at many places in Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Angul, Dhenkanal, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput and at a few places in rest districts of Odisha.

In view of the rainfall warning, the weather agency has warned of some damage to standing crops and vegetables, temporary waterlogging and some damages of kutcha road and possibility of wall collapse. Farmers have been advised to harvest matured paddy, ragi, millets & other crops, horticultural crops and vegetables by December 3.

Also Read: Cyclone Michaung: Odisha Govt Cancels Leave Of Field Officials For 5 Days

WIND WARNING

Squally wind speed reaching 35-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph is likely from December 4 evening along and off Odisha coast (Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, and Jagatsinghpur), and gradually increase becoming 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph from December 5 evening for subsequent 12 hours. It would gradually decrease thereafter. Also, strong surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph is likely over Malkangiri, Koraput and Rayagada districts on December 5.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into deep sea areas of southwest Bay of Bengal till December 4 and west central Bay of Bengal during December 2-5, along & off Odisha coast from December 4 evening till further notice. Those in the sea have been advised to return to coast during 12 hours.

All ports in the state have been asked to hoist distant cautionary signal I.

Also Read: ECoR Cancels 54 Express Trains For Cyclone Michaung; Details Here