North Andaman Low Pressure Triggers Cyclone Threat For Odisha

Bhubaneswar: After Fani in May, is Odisha starring at another cyclonic storm?

The wind models forecast of Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), under Ministry of Earth Sciences, suggests that a Low Pressure Area (LOPAR), which is likely to form over the north Andaman sea on November 4 (Monday), will later develop into a tropical cyclone in the Bay of Bengal and move towards northern Odisha coast. It is expected hit the Odisha coast between Jagatsinghpur and Balasore by November 10-11.

The regional centre of India Meteorological Department on Sunday, however, in its mid-day bulletin mentioned only about formation of a LOPAR over north Andaman sea and adjoining south-east Bay of Bengal by November 4. It is expected to concentrate into depression by November 7, it added.

The Regional Met office earlier said the current conditions were favourable for the formation of a tropical cyclone over the Bay of Bengal and its movement towards the east coast.

“We are closely monitoring the development. Current conditions like sea surface temperature, good source of latent heat, humidity factor, low vertical wind shear, and others are favourable for formation of cyclones over Bay of Bengal,” Director, Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre, HR Biswas had said.

He had further said that cyclonic storm MAHA over Lakshadweep and adjoining south-east Arabian Sea, cyclonic storm Kyarr over west-central Arabian Sea and tropical storm Matmo will have no significant impact on the system developing over the Bay of Bengal.

According to weather experts, the Bay of Bengal is a potentially active region for the formation of tropical cyclones. On an average, five to six tropical cyclones with maximum sustained wind speed of 63 km per hour or more are formed in the Bay of Bengal every year. Of these, two to three reach severe stage with maximum sustained wind speed of 89 km per hour. The post-monsoon storms are more devastating in nature, they added.