Bhubaneswar: The severe cyclonic storm ‘Montha’ moved north-northwestwards with a speed of 15 kmph during past six hours and was about 70 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 150 km south-southeast of Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), 250 km south-southwest of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and 480 km south-southwest of Gopalpur (Odisha), at 2.30 pm on Tuesday.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), it will continue to move north-northwestwards and cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada by tonight as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph.
Although Montha is not forecast to directly hit Odisha, its impact—especially heavy rain and strong winds—is likely to be felt across southern districts with the landfall point approximately 200 km from Malkangiri. Red and orange warning has been issued for the districts of Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Khurda, Puri, Nayagarh, Nuapada, Balangir and Sonepur on October 28-29.
Scattered heavy to very heavy falls (7 to 20cm) with isolated extremely heavy rainfall (>20cm) may occur at isolated places in the districts of Malakangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajpati and Ganjam on October 28, and Malakangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi and Rayagada on October 29. These districts are also likely to witness surface wind of 60 to 70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph.
These districts along with Kandhamal are likely to bear the brunt.
Similarly, gusty wind speed of 50 to 60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph is likely to prevail along with heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20cm) in the districts of Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhmal, Nayagarh, Khurda, and Puri. on October 28, and Nuapada, Balangir, Kandhamal and Gajapati on October 29.
Heavy rainfall (7 to 11cm) along with wind speed of 40 to 50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph may occur at isolated places in the districts of Angul, Dhenkanal, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Nuapada, Balangir, Sonepur, Boudh, and Bargarh on October 28. Similar weather conditions may continue in Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Cuttack, Khurda, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Sundargarh, Keonjhar Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Boudh, Sambalpur, Sonepur and Bargarh on October 29.
Squally weather with wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is prevailing along & off south Odisha coast. It is likely to increase, becoming gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph from October 28 evening to early hours of October 29. Wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph may continue along and off south Odisha coast till October 29 evening and decrease gradually thereafter.
Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph may prevail along and off north Odisha coast from October 28 evening till early hours of October 29 and 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph till October 29 evening, and decrease gradually thereafter.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea till October 29, and ports have been asked to hoist warning signals.
The Odisha government has so far shifted 11,396 people to 2,048 cyclone-flood shelters with evacuation from low-lying areas and hilly terrain still underway in vulnerable places of these eight districts. Schools and Anganwadi centres in the nine districts will remain closed till October 30, with extensions possible depending on weather conditions. Tourists are prohibited from traveling to sea beaches across the coastline and hilly areas like Deomali and Mahendragiri hills until the October 31.
To bolster emergency response, 30 ODRAF teams, 5 NDRF teams, and 123 fire service units have been stationed in the possible impact districts. Additional teams are on alert.