Odisha Braces For Heavy Rain, Squall As Cyclone ‘Michaung’ Brews Over Bay; Check IMD Warning

Bhubaneswar: Coastal areas of Odisha may have to brace for heavy rainfall with Cyclone ‘Michaung’ brewing over Southwest Bay of Bengal.

The deep depression, which currently lies about 500 km east-southeast of Puducherry, 510 km east-southeast of Chennai, 630 km southeast of Nellore, 710 km south-southeast of Bapatla and 710 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam, is expected to evolve into a cyclonic storm during next 24 hours, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD).

“The system is likely to move west-northwestwards, intensify into a Cyclonic Storm over Southwest Bay of Bengal during next 24 hours. Thereafter, it would move northwestwards and reach westcentral Bay of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamilnadu coasts by December 4 forenoon. Thereafter, it would move nearly northwards almost parallel and close to south Andhra Pradesh coasts and cross South Andhra Pradesh coasts between Nellore and Machilipatnam during forenoon of December 5 as a cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph.”

While rain is likely to resume in Odisha on December 3, its intensity is likely to increase in the next three days, the IMD said in its special bulletin.

December 3

Light to moderate rain/thundershower may occur at a few places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapti, Ganjam at one or two places in rest districts of coastal Odisha, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi and Kandhamal.

December 4

Yellow Warning: Heavy rainfall (7 to 11 cm) is likely at one or two places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam.

Light to moderate rain/thundershower may also occur at many places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapti, Ganjam, Puri, at a few places in Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Nayagarh, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack and at one or two places in remaining parts of the state.

December 5

Orange warning: Heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20cm) may occur at one or two places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam.

Yellow Warning: Heavy rainfall (7 to 11cm) is also likely at one or two places in Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, and Puri.

Light to moderate rain/thundershower is expected at most places in South coastal Odisha, Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur and at many places in South interior Odisha, north coastal Odisha and at a few places in North interior Odisha.

December 6

Yellow Warning: Heavy rainfall (7 to 11cm) is likely at one or two places in Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri, Nayagarh, Khurda, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kandhamal and Rayagada.

Light to moderate rain/thundershower may also occur at most places in coastal Odisha, and at many places in Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Angul, Dhenkanal, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput and at a few places in rest districts of Odisha.

In view of the rainfall warning, the weather agency has warned of some damage to standing crops and vegetables, temporary waterlogging and some damages of kutcha road and possibility of wall collapse. Farmers have been advised to harvest matured paddy, ragi, millets & other crops, horticultural crops and vegetables by December 3.

WIND WARNING

Squally wind speed reaching 35-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph is likely from December 4 evening along and off Odisha coast (Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, and Jagatsinghpur), and gradually increase becoming 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph from December 5 evening for subsequent 12 hours. It would gradually decrease thereafter. Also, strong surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph is likely over Malkangiri, Koraput and Rayagada districts on December 5.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into deep sea areas of southwest Bay of Bengal till December 4 and west central Bay of Bengal during December 2-5, along & off Odisha coast from December 4 evening till further notice. Those in the sea have been advised to return to coast during 12 hours.

All ports in the state have been asked to hoist distant cautionary signal I.

According to SOA’s Centre for Environment and Climate (CEC) in Bhubaneswar, the south Odisha districts of Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Gajapati and Ganjam might experience wind speed of 75 km per hour on December 5. As a consequence, moderate to heavy rainfall might occur in these districts along with districts of Kandhamal, Kalahandi and Nabarangpur. These districts could experience heavy to very heavy rainfall on December 5 and 6 while moderate to heavy to very heavy precipitation is likely at one or two locations in the districts of Khurda, Nayagarh, Puri, Cuttack and neighbouring areas between December 5 and 7, it added.