Bhubaneswar: Heavy rain lashed several parts of Odisha as the depression over the Bay of Bengal gained strength and is likely to intensify into a deep depression during the next 12 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday.
According to the latest bulletin issued by the IMD, the system moved west-northwest-wards with a speed of 17 kmph and lay centred over the same region near latitude 17.9 degrees North and longitude 86.3 degrees East in the morning.
The depression is now located about 220 km southeast of Gopalpur, 220 km south-southeast of Puri in Odisha, 230 km east-southeast of Kalingapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and 320 km east of Visakhapatnam. The system is being continuously monitored by the IMD.
Continuing to move in the same direction, the system is very likely to cross the North Andhra Pradesh – South Odisha coasts between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur as a Deep Depression during the night of September 23 to early hours of September 24.
Under its influence, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over several districts of South Odisha and North Coastal Andhra Pradesh, and fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea.
The sea condition is expected to remain rough to very rough during this period as the weather system is set to trigger high-velocity winds.
Meanwhile, the Centre for Environment and Climate (CEC) of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) Deemed to be University said the intensification of the system was very slow but it was likely to move in a west-north westerly direction.
Director of CEC Sarat Chandra Sahu said it may become a deep depression on the evening of September 22 and cross the Odisha coast near Chilika lake on the night of September 23.
There was, however, ambiguity about the landfall point as system intensification was not very prominent as yet, Sahu said adding it may also remain stationary over south Odisha and adjoining north Andhra Pradesh. The picture will become clear on September 22 afternoon, he said.
After landfall, the system could change direction and move in a northerly and then in a north-easterly direction and enter Jharkhand, Sahu said.
Under its influence, heavy to very heavy rainfall will occur over the districts of Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Kataka, Khordha, Nayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Balangir, Nabarangpur, Dhenkanal and Anugola between September 22 and 23.
The districts of Khordha, Kataka and Nayagada may experience extremely heavy rainfall during this period.
The heavy precipitation will then shift towards northern and western districts of Odisha between September 23 and 26.
