Heavy Rain Forecast For Odisha As ‘Bulbul’ Intensifies Into Very Severe Cyclonic Storm

Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday sounded heavy rainfall warning in Odisha as the severe cyclonic storm ‘Bulbul’ intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm early in the morning.

According to a morning special bulletin by the IMD, the severe cyclonic storm ‘Bulbul’ (pronounced as Bul bul) over west-central and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal moved north-north-westwards with a speed of 13 kmph during the last six hours, intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm at 5.30 am on Friday and lay centred over the west-central and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal, about 310 km south-south-east of  Paradip, 530 km south-south-west of Sagar Islands (West Bengal) and 630 km south-south-west of Khepupara (Bangladesh).

It is very likely to intensify further by early morning of November 9 and most likely to move nearly north-wards till November 9 morning and very likely to re-curve north-eastwards and cross West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts between Sagar Islands and Khepupara across Sundarban delta during the early hours of November 10 as a severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 110-120 kmph gusting up to 135 kmph.

Under the influence of the cyclonic storm, IMD has issued orange and yellow warning for the following districts.

November 8
(Yellow warning)
Heavy rainfall at isolated places in Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara and Bhadrak districts

November 9
(Orange warning)
Heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts

November 10
(Yellow warning)
Cuttack, Jajpur and Mayurbhanj.

Wind warning
Strong wind speed reaching 35– 45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph likely to commence along and off the Odisha coast from this morning. It is very likely to increase becoming squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph with gusting up to 65 kmph by afternoon over Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Balasore and Bhadrak districts. Besides, gale wind speed reaching 70-80 kmph with gusting up to 90 kmph is most likely to begin from the afternoon on November 9 along and off the Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Balasore and Bhadrak districts for subsequent 12 hours and decrease thereafter. It is likely to decrease from November 10 onwards. On November 8 and 9, the districts of Puri, Ganjam and Jajpur are likely to experience squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph with gusting up to 60 kmph.

Bay of Bengal
Under the influence of the cyclonic storm, gale wind speed reaching 120-130 kmph with gusting up to 140 kmph is prevailing over the west-central and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal around the system centre. It is very likely to increase gradually and become 145-155 kmph with gusting up to 170 kmph by the forenoon on November 8. It will gradually increase by the early hours of November 9 over the north-west and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal for subsequent 12 hours and decrease gradually thereafter.

Sea condition
The condition of the sea which is rough to very rough along and off the Odisha coast at present, will become high to very high on November 9 and 10. The sea condition will be rough to very rough over the North Bay of Bengal till evening on Friday and gradually become very high to phenomenal over the northwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal from the evening on November 8 for subsequent 48 hours and very rough to very high over the north-east Bay of Bengal from the morning on November 9 for subsequent 48 hours. The condition of the sea now is phenomenal over the west-central and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal around the system centre. It will be phenomenal to very high over these areas for subsequent 24 hours.

Warning for fishermen

IMD has advised total suspension of fishing operations along the Odisha coast and deep sea area in the west-central and North Bay Bengal from November 8 till further notice.

It has also advised all ports to hoist the distant cautionary signal no-3.

It has also advised the state government that the following damage is expected over the coastal districts of north Odisha:

It has also advised the state government that the following damage is expected over the coastal districts of north Odisha:

i) Damage to thatched houses/ huts and flying of unattached metal sheets
(ii) Damage to embankments/salt pans
(iii) Partial damage to power and communication lines
(iv) Major damage to kutcha and some damage to pucca roads and flooding of escape routes
(v) Breaking of tree branches, uprooting of trees
(vi) Major damage to coastal crops.

Mentioned below are the actions suggested by the IMD to the Odisha government for the north coastal districts:
(i) Total suspension of fishing operations from November 8 onwards
(ii) Advise people in affected areas to remain indoors.
(iii) Stop the movement of people in motor boats and
(iv) Restrict the movement of the people along the beach.

Meanwhile, in a press briefing on Friday, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradip Jena said that the collectors of the north coastal districts have been instructed to take necessary steps to evacuate the people from the low-lying areas.