Bhubaneswar: Cyclone Murasu is expected to weaken into a cyclonic storm by noon and further downgrade to a deep depression by midnight, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday.
“It is very likely to continue to move further north-northwestwards and weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm (80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph) by noon and further into a deep depression (55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph) by midnight.”
This update came hours after Murasu, initially classified as severe cyclonic storm, made landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast.
Under the influence of the system, Odisha, which is already reeling the impact of Cyclone Arnab, is likely to experience widespread rain for two day with yellow warning of heavy downpours Along with thunderstorm, lightning and gusty surface wind (40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph) issued for the districts of Koraput and Malkangiri till Wednesday morning. Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (30-40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph) is also likely in Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha and Nayagada.
Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (30-40 kmph) may also occur at one or two places in the districts of Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha and Nayagada, during the subsequent 24 hours. Dry weather is expected to return to the state by November 7.
Earlier speaking to the media, Odisha’s Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said that light rainfall has been reported in Koraput, Malkangiri, Kandhamala, Kalahandi, and several other districts. Rainfall across the state has significantly dropped, recording an average of just 2 mm, he noted.
Expressing hope that conditions will not deteriorate, Pujari noted that the state remains on high alert, with landslides posing a primary concern. He added that residents in high-risk hilly regions will stay in temporary shelters until weather conditions improve.
The state government has already evacuated over 160,000 people and deployed emergency response teams across five southern districts.
