Bhubaneswar: The depression is about 200 km from Balasore (Odisha coast), 140 km from Digha (West Bengal) and 100 km from Sagar Islands (West Bengal) and will intensify into a deep depression in 6 hours. There is no forecast for cyclone, India Meteorological Department (IMD) DG Mrutyunjay Mohapatra clarified on Friday.
“We have said nothing about intensification of the system into a cyclonic storm. It will move along the coast as a deep depression. Since the system is already interacting with landmass, it is unlikely to intensify further,” he said.
The US’ Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) had earlier warned that the system has the potential to intensify into a cyclone. “Numerical model guidance indicates that the system will track west-northwestward towards Kolkata and make landfall within the next 36-48 hours. It is expected to peak in intensity within the next 24-36 hours just before making landfall. The system is expected to track into an area of lower vertical wind shear allowing the system to further intensify. Maximum sustained surface winds are estimated at 28 to 33 knots. The potential for the development of a significant tropical cyclone within the next 24 hours is high,” it had said on Thursday.
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The IMD DG, however, said that the system will continue to move west-northwestwards across north Odisha, West Bengal and Jharkhand towards north Chhattisgarh as a deep depression after landfall and weaken gradually.
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Under its influence, squally surface wind reaching up to 55-65kmph is expected in coastal areas, and 30-40kmph in interior districts. “North Odisha will receive maximum rainfall today while rain intensity will increase in western districts tomorrow,” he added.
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Red warning for heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy falls has been issued for Keonjhar, Bhadrak, Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts till 8.30 am on August 20. Heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20 cm) is also likely to occur at a few places over Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Angul, Deogarh, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Sonepur, Boudh, Balangir and Jajpur districts during this period while Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Ganjam, Nayagarh, Khurda and Puri districts are likely to experience heavy rainfall (7 to 11 cm).
Orange warning continues for the subsequent 24 hours with a forecast for heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20 cm) at one or two places in Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Sonepur and Balangir districts. Heavy rainfall (7 to 11 cm) is very likely to occur at isolated places over Mayurbhanj, Angul, Boudh, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Nabarangpur and Dhenkanal districts.
