Bhubaneswar: The low pressure over Bay of Bengal became well-marked on Saturday and is likely to intensify gradually into a cyclonic storm in 48 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
The low-pressure area, which formed over the southeast Bay of Bengal on Friday, intensified into a well-marked low-pressure area over the same region by 5.30 am on Saturday.
The weather system is very likely to move north-westwards and intensify into a depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal during the next 24 hours.
Thereafter, the weather system is likely to move north-north-westwards and gain further strength, potentially developing into a cyclonic storm over the central Bay of Bengal around the evening of November 16.
If the system intensifies into a cyclonic storm, it will be named ‘Akvan’, sources said.
The IMD is yet to indicate the possible direction and intensity of the system and the likely landfall location. The possible impact of the developing system on coastal regions is yet to ne assessed.
The weather agency is closely monitoring the system’s movement and intensification over the Bay of Bengal.
In view of the possibility of a cyclone taking shape, the Odisha government has already asked the district collectors to keep a close watch on the situation and remain prepared to deal with the storm, third during the current season.
