‘Phethai’ Makes Landfall In AP, Heavy Rain Likely In South Odisha

Bhubaneswar: After making the landfall, cyclonic storm ‘Phethai’ over the westcentral Bay of Bengal is reportedly moving closer to the coast, around 35 km south of Yanam in Puduchery, 50 km east of Narsapur and 60 km south of Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh.

It made the landfall at Katrenikona in Andhra Pradesh’s East Godavari district at 12.30 pm.

It is likely to cross Andhra Pradesh coast, around Kakinada close to south of Yanam, within 2-3 hours with wind speed 70-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph, according to 1.30 pm bulletin of India Meteorological Department.

According to news agency ANI, trees were uprooted at Narsipatnam in Visakhapatnam district after strong winds and rainfall hit the region. Roads are being cleared by the local administration. The entire Konaseema region has received heavy rainfall.

‘Phethai’ could trigger rainfall across most parts of Odisha with very heavy precipitation likely in the districts of Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Nayagarh and Puri over the next 24 hours. Heavy rainfall was expected in the districts of Kalahandi, Nawarangpur, Jagarsinghpur, Kendrapara, Khurda, Bhadrak and Jajpur on December 17 and 18, Dr S C Sahu, Director of Centre for Environment and Climate (CEC) at the SOA Deemed University said.

Cyclonic winds, speed reaching 50 to 70 kmph, would prevail in the south coastal districts while wind, speed reaching 30-50 kmph, would be experienced in the rest of the coastal belt.

There was likelihood of moderate rainfall in the other coastal districts during the period. Due to rains and chilly weather, cold conditions will prevail in most parts of the state, he added.