Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s Balasore is likely to witness landfall of another cyclone, three years after being ravaged by Cyclone Yaas.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday released a new possible track of the impending Cyclone ‘Dana’, which is likely to hit Odisha coast by October 24-25.
While the MeT office had earlier predicted that the cyclone may cross north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island by October 24-25, the present track forecasts landfall along Odisha coast near Balasore/Bhadrak after crossing Bhitarkanika in Kendrapada.
Currently, the depression over Eastcentral Bay of Bengal is about 700 km southeast of Paradip (Odisha), 750 km south-southeast of Sagar Island (West Bengal) and 730 km south-southeast of Khepupara (Bangladesh). “It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm by October 23 over Eastcentral Bay of Bengal. Thereafter, continuing to move northwestwards, it is very likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over Northwest Bay of Bengal by October 24 morning,” the IMD said in its latest bulletin.
The cyclone is expected to strike the coast with wind speed of of 100-110 kmph gusting 120 kmph at the time of the landfall during October 24 night and October 25 morning.
Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 gusting to 60 kmph may commence along and off Odisha-West Bengal coasts from October 23 evening. It would gradually increase becoming gale wind speed reaching 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph from October 24 night till October 25 morning, it added.
Also Read: Check Likely Wind Speed In 18 Odisha Districts During Cyclone ‘Dana’ Landfall On October 24-25
According to the weather agency, light to moderate rainfall may occur at most places in Odisha with heavy rainfall (07-11 cm) at isolated places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Jagatsingpur, Puri, Khurda, Ganjam and Gajapati on October 23. Yellow warning of heavy rainfall (7 to 11cm) accompanied by thunderstorm and lightning has been sounded for isolated places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapdra, Jagatsinghpur and Puri districts.
Also Read: Cyclone ‘Dana’: Extremely Heavy Rain & Strong Wind To Batter Odisha, Red Alert For 8 Dists
On October 24-25, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at a few places and extremely heavy rainfall (≥ 21 cm) at isolated places in Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Jagatsingpur Keonjhar, Jajpur, Cuttack and Dhenkanal and Puri districts. Red warning has been issued for Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Jagatsingpur, Jajpur and Cuttack on October 24 and Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Keonjhar on October 25.
Also Read: Cyclone ‘Dana’ To Reach Odisha Coast By October 24; Know Who Named It & The Meaning
Cyclone Yaas had left a trail of destruction in Odisha’s Balasore and Bhadrak districts as the severe cyclonic storm made landfall at Bahanaga between north of Dhamara and south of Balasore at 9 am on May 26, 2021, and continued to wreak havoc for a few hours. Trees, branches, thatched roofs were seen flying as the wind swept at 130 kmph to 140 km/hr and gusting up to 150 km/hr. Thousands of people in Baliapal and Bhograi blocks were stranded after tidal waves entered several seaside villages. A youth of Bhaskarganja village in Sahadevkhunta, also died after a tree fell on him.
Also Read: Odisha’s Trysts With Tropical Storms Since 1999 Super Cyclone; The Hits & Misses