Red Alert For Odisha As Depression Likely To Intensify & Cross Coast Between Puri & Digha

Bhubaneswar: Odisha is likely to experience intense spells of rain as the Depression over Bay of Bengal is expected to move nearly northwards towards North Odisha-West Bengal coasts and intensify into a Deep Depression during the next 24 hours.

The system may then move westnorthwestwards and cross Odisha and adjoining West Bengal coasts between Puri and Digha around evening/night of September 9, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed on Sunday.

“The depression over westcentral and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal moved northnorthwestwards with a speed of 13 kmph during past 3 hours and lay centered at 8.30 am over the same region, about 280 km east of Kalingapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 230 km east-southeast of Gopalpur(Odisha), 260 km south-southeast of Paradip (Odisha) and 390 km south of Digha (West Bengal). It is very likely to move nearly northwards towards north Odisha-West Bengal coasts and intensify into a deep depression during next 24 hours. Thereafter, it is very likely to move westnorthwestwards and cross Odisha and adjoining West Bengal coasts between Puri and Digha around evening/night of September 9. Continuing to move further west-northwestwards, it is likely to move across Odisha and adjoining Gangetic West Bengal and Jharkhand and adjoining north Chhattisgarh during the subsequent 2 days.”

The weather agency had sounded red, orange and yellow warnings while predicting extremely heavy to very heavy rain in Odisha till September 11. “Squally weather with wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is currently prevailing over northwest and adjoining northeast & central Bay of Bengal and along & off Odisha coast. It is likely to increase becoming 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph over the same region from night of September 8 till morning of September 10 and decrease gradually thereafter. Squally weather with wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is likely to prevail over coastal districts of Odisha on September 9 and 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph over interior districts of north Odisha on September 10 and decrease gradually thereafter,” it further said.

On September 8, heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20 cm) may occur at isolated places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, and Puri districts. Heavy Rainfall (7 to 11cm) is also likely at isolated places in Khurda, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Boudh, Sonepur, Balangir, Nuapada, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrak, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kadhamal, Sambalpur and Bargarh.

The intensity of rain is likely to increase on September 9 with red warning of scattered heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20cm) with isolated extremely heavy rainfall (>20cm) for Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Khurda, Cuttack and Dhenkanal districts. Heavy to very heavy rainfall may also occur at isolated places in Ganjam, Koraput, Kandhamal, Balangir, Bargarh, Boudh, Sonepur, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Nayagarh, Angul and Sambalpur. There is also a heavy rainfall warning for Nuapada, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Deogarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Rayagada, Gajapati, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Badharak and Balasore.

Orange warning continues on September 10 with heavy to very heavy rainfall likely at isolated places in Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, and Sambalpur. Yellow warning of heavy rainfall (7 to 11cm) has also been issued for Bargarh, Sonepur, Deogarh, Angul, Boudh and Keonjhar districts.

On September 11, heavy rainfall may continue at isolated places in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, and Sundargarh.

The IMD has also warned of flash flood with significant rise in the water level of rivers, waterlogging in low-lying areas, underpass road, inundation of agriculture field, mudslides/landslides in vulnerable hilly areas. There is also a possibility of some damage to un-metalled roads and kutcha houses. Occasional reduction of visibility causing traffic congestion is also likely in urban areas.

Flash Flood Risk

Low to moderate flash flood risk likely over few watersheds and neighbourhoods of following Met Subdivisions during the next 24 hours – Bargarh, Boudh, Ganjam, Jagatsinghapur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Kendrapada, Khurda, Koraput, Nayagarh, Puri and Rayagada.

Surface runoff/ inundation may occur at some fully saturated soils and low-lying areas.

Sea Condition

Rough to very rough sea condition over northwest and adjoining northeast & central Bay of Bengal and along & off Odisha coast from September 8 till morning of September 10. Rough sea condition on September 11.

Port Warning

Local Cautionary Signal No-3 (LC-3) at all ports of Odisha.

Fishermen Warning

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into northwest and adjoining northeast & central Bay of Bengal; along & off Odisha coast till forenoon of  September 11.