Cyclonic Storm Brewing Off North Odisha Coast!

Bhubaneswar/New Delhi: A cyclonic storm is expected to head towards the north Odisha, West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts on Wednesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned on Tuesday.

In a morning briefing, IMD director general Mrutyunjay Mahapatra informed that the low-pressure area, which had formed over the North Andaman coast on Monday, concentrated into a depression around 5,30 am on Tuesday.

“The depression over the east-central and adjoining south-east Bay of Bengal and North Andaman Sea has moved westwards and lay centred over the east-central and adjoining south-east Bay of Bengal and North Andaman Sea about 240 km west-north-west of Maya Bandar (Andaman Islands), 900 km south-south-east of Paradip, 990 km south-southeast of Sagar islands (West Bengal) and 990 km south-south-west of Khepupara (Bangladesh). It is very likely to intensify into a deep depression during the next 12 hours and concentrate into a cyclonic storm during the subsequent 24 hours. It is very likely to move west-northwestwards initially and then north-north-westwards, towards West Bengal, adjoining north Odisha and Bangladesh coasts,” Mahapatra told reporters in New Delhi.

He, however, clarified that the IMD is yet to determine the exact area of landfall.

Under the influence of the cyclonic storm, the sea off the Odisha coast will experience squally wind with speed of around 40-60 kmph from Saturday.

“We have advised fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off the Odisha coast and over north Bay of Bengal from November 8 onwards till further notice and whoever in the deep sea are advised to return to the coast by the night on November 7. Besides, they are also advised not to venture into deep sea area of the east-central Bay of Bengal from November 5 and the west-central Bay of Bengal from November 7 till further notice. Apart from this, all ports in the state have been advised to hoist the Distant Cautionary Signal No-1.” he added.

Talking about the rainfall in Odisha, Mahapatra said there will be light to moderate showers in the coastal districts, mostly in the north on Friday.

“We will be able to tell about the intensity of rainfall in the coastal districts if the cyclonic storm heads towards the north Odisha coast,” he added.