Remnant Of Cyclone Michaung Weakens Into Depression; Heavy Rain To Continue In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The deep depression (remnant of cyclonic storm Michaung) weakened into a depression on Wednesday morning.

“The deep depression (remnant of cyclonic storm Michaung) over central coastal Andhra Pradesh moved nearly northwards with a speed of 11 kmph during past 6 hours, weakened into a depression and lay centered at 5.30 am today, over Northeast Telangana and adjoining south Chhattisgarh-south Interior Odisha-Coastal Andhra Pradesh, about 50 km east-northeast of Khammam, 110 km north-northwest of Gannavaram (Vijaywada) and 250 km southwest of Jagdalpur,” the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed.

The system is likely to continue to move nearly northwards and weaken further into a well-marked low pressure area during next 6 hours, it added.

According to MeT officials, the chances of rain havoc in Odisha districts were reduced as the severe cyclonic storm Michaung, which ripped through Andhra Pradesh coast on Tuesday afternoon, moved northwards.

Though there is no more cyclone threat for Odisha, Michaung’s remnants will cause heavy rain in some parts of the state during the day. The IMD has issued yellow warning of heavy rain for one or two places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, and Nuapada. Light to moderate rain/thundershower is likely at most places in South interior Odisha and at many places in remaining parts of the state. Bhubaneswar too has been witnessing intermittent rain since this morning.

Gajapati district administration has announced closure of all schools on Wednesday owing to heavy rains.

The weather agency has also warned of some damage to crops and vegetables in the view of the possible heavy rain.

Squally wind speed reaching 35-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph is prevailing along and off Odisha coast and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal. It is likely to continue during next 6 hours and would gradually decrease thereafter, it further said.

Light to moderate rain may also continue at a few places in the state on Thursday.

Notably, Odisha recorded an average rainfall of 6.5 mm in the last 24 hours as Malkangiri, Koraput and Rayagada received very heavy rainfall on Tuesday night under the influence of the tropical storm even as it has started losing its intensity gradually. The highest downpour of 106 mm was recoded in Pottangi block in Koraput district, it added.